We have research interest in polynuclear compounds of lanthanide(III), p- and d-block ions with potential biomedical, extractive metallurgical and catalytic applications. Their preparation, structures and luminescence spectroscopy and decay dynamics as well as electron paramagnetic resonance behavior are the main focus. Lasers (1J YAG and 1 mJ nitrogen and their matching dye lasers) along with a helium refrigerator, luminescence spectrometer and accompanying electronics are the major instrumentation. Ligands of interest are aromatic Schiff's bases, crown ethers, phthalamates and alkylamine dendrimers and their derivatives.We also have interests in solid waste and environmental pollution, especially asbestos waste. Waste disposal, polluted sites, their public health effects and policy issues are of interest.

Research in the Kahwa group is in the general areas of inorganic chemistry, with an emphasis on the creation of new coordination compounds. The long-term goal of the programme is to develop new materials for nano devices and for application in bio-medicine and catalysis.

Generally, the group prepares and characterises new compounds of rare earths, transition metals and S and P block elements. A phenomenon of interest has been the clustering of metal species and the interactions arising therefrom or responsible for the aggregation. Metal-metal and other interactions are probed using a variety of lasers and equipment capable of probing temperature-dependent phenomena between 8K and 400K.

The current focus is on rare earth elements, transition metals, S and P block elements and the metal-metal interactions within their clusters. The aim is to decide the cluster materials needed, how they should be structured and who the neighbours should be for them to be effectively assembled. Studies are underway towards developing the chemical glues needed to bind the metals in the clusters together to maximise the applications in biomedical diagnostics and therapeutics.

The approach is exploratory, and the primary research tools used include X-ray diffraction machines and tunable laser sources, as well as NMR and luminescence spectrometers.

As a minor research interest, the group delves into environmental issues, especially those involving toxic or hazardous materials such as asbestos and mold. Public policies related to science, technology and innovation are also of interest.

Prof. Kahwa has published approximately 70 journal articles on his research, most of which are well cited