Noel R. Russell, Michael Devereux, Declan McCormack, Mary McNamara, Claire McDonnell, Christine O’Connor, Michael Seery

There is currently growing interest in the application of materials chemistry to molecular recognition, biomimetic chemistry and supramolecular chemistry. There are many motivations behind such research, for example, the development of materials with novel magnetic, electronic and photophysical properties have potential application as sensors, molecular switches, in signal processing, light-energy conversion and DNA photocleavage.

The group is currently active in developing metallo-derivatives of cyclodextrins for the chiral resolution of enantiomeric drug formulations.   Similar materials are also under construction which contain photoactive metal sites bridged to ground state redox active components.  Such complexes are capable of light and electrochemical induced transfer processes, with potential application in energy and data storage.

Also in the area of biomimetic chemistry, the ability of metallo-complexes to mimic enzymes is being assessed and to date the group has been successful in the synthesis and characterisation of dicarboxylate complexes which have been shown to be particularly active catalysts.  Similar materials have also been found to have very good anti-fungal activity.

Another aspect of the work of this group involves novel nanosized semiconductors as photovoltaics and thermistors.

The group has recently extended its work to include synthesis of materials for organometallic coordination of oxidative metabolites.

A joint interdisciplinary project with the Physics of Molecular Materials group involves the synthesis and characterisation of conjugated polymers with a view to developing an understanding of structure property relationships in such materials.  Other projects with POMM involve the study of the interaction of carbon nanotubes with saccharides in order to develop a possible route to biocompatible composites.

Other interdisciplinary collaborations includes the Radiation and Environmental Science Centre.  This work involves the development of novel analytical methodologies for the investigation of the radiation-induced bystander factor in cell conditioned media.

MSA Occupancy October 06

Postgraduate Research Personnel

Mr. Ciaran Potter (PhD Student) Supervisor: Mary McNamara
Mr. Patrick Lynch (PhD Student) Supervisors: Mary McNamara and Hugh Byrne
Ms. Andrea McNally (PhD Student) Supervisor: Noel Russell
Mr. Muath Atmeh (MPhil Student) Supervisor: Noel Russell
Mr. Nigel Brady (PhD Student) Supervisor: Noel Russell
Mr. Andrew Kellett (PhD Student) Supervisor: Michael Devereux
Mr. Mark O’Connor (MPhil Student) Supervisor: Michael Devereux
Ms. Grainne Duffy (MPhil Student) Supervisor: Declan McCormack
Mr. Niall Stobie (MPhil Student) Supervisor: Declan McCormack
Mr. Martin Galvin (PhD Student) Supervisor: Claire McDonnell
Ms. Catriona O’Meara (MPhil Student) Supervisor: Claire McDonnell

Mr. Antonio Clementi (MPhil Student) Supervisors: Christine O Connor and M. McNamara

Ms. Aja Tsan (MPhil Student) Supervisor: Mary McNamara

Vacant Positions

‘Water-based Synthesis of Conjugated Polymers’ Supervisors: Mary McNamara and Hugh Byrne

‘Preparation of Mesporous Titania for Nanochromic Display Devices’ Supervisor: Declan McCormack

'Metallopharmaceuticals as Photoactivatable Anticancer Drugs’

Dr Christine O’Connor and Dr Michael Devereux