Professor of Supramolecular & Polymer Chemistry / Director of the Melville Laboratory for Polymer Synthesis

What we do

Our research interests include the synthesis of functional nanosystems, controlled polymer architectures and dynamic supramolecular assemblies through molecular recognition processes.

The underlying theme of our research lies at the interface between synthetic organic efforts on small molecules and macroscopic properties at the materials level, developing a macro-organic approach to chemistry. Dynamic supramolecular self-assembly of materials will be an area of great importance in the coming years, allowing for innovations in nanotechnology and at the biological and chemical interfaces.

We are particularly interested in exploring topics such as water-soluble and stimuli-responsive materials, template and imprinting technologies of functional polymers for use in chiral separations and enantioselective catalysis, and controlling material morphologies and architectures both in solution and in the solid state through rational design and a multi-step, hierarchical self-assembly process.

Watch Professor Scherman discuss his research

Take a tour of the Scherman Lab

Publications

Mining 2:2 Complexes from 1:1 Stoichiometry: Formation of Cucurbit[8]uril−Diarylviologen Quaternary Complexes Favored by Electron-Donating Substituents
G Wu, M Olesińska, Y Wu, D Matak-Vinkovic, OA Scherman
Journal of the American Chemical Society
(2017)
139
The wood from the trees: The use of timber in construction
MH Ramage, H Burridge, M Busse-Wicher, G Fereday, T Reynolds, DU Shah, G Wu, L Yu, P Fleming, D Densley-Tingley, J Allwood, P Dupree, PF Linden, O Scherman
Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews
(2017)
68
Modulating the oxidation of cucurbit[n]urils
JA McCune, E Rosta, OA Scherman
Organic and Biomolecular Chemistry
(2017)
15
Biomimetic Supramolecular Polymer Networks Exhibiting both Toughness and Self-Recovery
J Liu, CSY Tan, Z Yu, Y Lan, C Abell, OA Scherman
Advanced materials (Deerfield Beach, Fla.)
(2017)
29
Cucurbit[$n$]uril-Based Microcapsules Self-Assembled within Microfluidic Droplets: A Versatile Approach for Supramolecular Architectures and Materials
J Liu, Y Lan, Z Yu, CSY Tan, RM Parker, C Abell, OA Scherman
Acc Chem Res
(2017)
50
Single-molecule force spectroscopy quantification of adhesive forces in cucurbit[8]uril host-guest ternary complexes.
Z Walsh-Korb, Y Yu, E-R Janecek, Y Lan, J Del Barrio, PE Williams, X Zhang, OA Scherman
Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids
(2017)
33
Decreasing amyloid toxicity through an increased rate of aggregation.
S Sonzini, HF Stanyon, OA Scherman
Phys Chem Chem Phys
(2017)
19
Natural Polymers as Alternative Consolidants for the Preservation of Waterlogged Archaeological Wood (vol 62, pg 173, 2016)
Z Walsh, E-R Janecek, M Jones, OA Scherman
Studies in Conservation
(2017)
62
Aqueous interfacial gels assembled from small molecule supramolecular polymers.
AS Groombridge, A Palma, RM Parker, C Abell, OA Scherman
Chem Sci
(2017)
8
Hybrid organic-inorganic supramolecular hydrogel reinforced with CePO4 nanowires (vol 7, pg 6485, 2016)
C Liu, G Xiang, Y Wu, SJ Barrow, MJ Rowland, DE Clarke, G Wu, OA Scherman
Polymer Chemistry
(2017)
8

Head of group

Telephone number

01223 331797, 01223 334372 (shared)

Email address

College