Nanoscience' defines a multidisciplinary research endeavour aiming at finding new ways to tackle current issues in the fields of sustainable materials, renewable energy and the diagnosis and treatment of diseases. The ability to control the synthesis of materials at the nanoscale allows us to produce tailor-made nanomaterials with distinct properties.
In our research we use controlled polymerisation techniques (such as RAFT, ATRP, ROMP) to synthesise polymers and polymer architectures. Our research is largely centered around molecular polymer brushes, but investigates shape-anisotropic nanomaterials more broadly (for example, nanoscale polymer rods, cylinders or discs). We use our comprehensive synthetic toolbox to design nanomaterials which aid the filling of research gaps in polymer self-assembly, biological and drug delivery studies, or in the fabrication of hybrid and semiconducting materials. In an effort to incorporate sustainability into our research programs, we are also developing new ways of synthesising our polymers using photocatalysis and incorporate renewable resources to our materials design.
