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

Supramolecular Chemistry of Cucurbiturils: Tuning Cooperativity with Multiple Noncovalent Interactions from Positive to Negative
Z Huang, K Qin, G Deng, G Wu, Y Bai, J-F Xu, Z Wang, Z Yu, OA Scherman, X Zhang
Langmuir : the ACS journal of surfaces and colloids
(2016)
32
High Affinity Recognition of a Selected Amino Acid Epitope within a Protein by Cucurbit[8]uril Complexation.
S Sonzini, A Marcozzi, RJ Gubeli, CF van der Walle, P Ravn, A Herrmann, OA Scherman
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl
(2016)
55
A Dynamic and Responsive Host in Action: Light‐Controlled Molecular Encapsulation
STJ Ryan, J Del Barrio, R Suardíaz, DF Ryan, E Rosta, OA Scherman
Angew Chem Int Ed Engl
(2016)
55
Microcapsule Buckling Triggered by Compression-Induced Interfacial Phase Change.
AR Salmon, RM Parker, AS Groombridge, A Maestro, RJ Coulston, J Hegemann, J Kierfeld, OA Scherman, C Abell
Langmuir
(2016)
32
Dual-responsive supramolecular colloidal microcapsules from cucurbit[8]uril molecular recognition in microfluidic droplets
Z Yu, Y Lan, RM Parker, W Zhang, X Deng, OA Scherman, C Abell
Polymer Chemistry
(2016)
7
Correction to Cucurbituril-Based Molecular Recognition
SJ Barrow, S Kasera, MJ Rowland, J Del Barrio, OA Scherman
Chem Rev
(2016)
116
Hybrid organic-inorganic supramolecular hydrogel reinforced with CePO4 nanowires
C Liu, G Xiang, Y Wu, SJ Barrow, MJ Rowland, DE Clarke, G Wu, OA Scherman
Polymer Chemistry
(2016)
7
Surface-Bound Cucurbit[8]uril Catenanes on Magnetic Nanoparticles Exhibiting Molecular Recognition.
X Ren, Y Wu, DE Clarke, J Liu, G Wu, OA Scherman
Chemistry, an Asian journal
(2016)
11
Single-molecule strong coupling at room temperature in plasmonic nanocavities.
R Chikkaraddy, B de Nijs, F Benz, SJ Barrow, OA Scherman, E Rosta, A Demetriadou, P Fox, O Hess, JJ Baumberg
Nature
(2016)
535
Light-Regulated Molecular Trafficking in a Synthetic Water-Soluble Host.
J Del Barrio, STJ Ryan, PG Jambrina, E Rosta, OA Scherman
Journal of the American Chemical Society
(2016)
138

Head of group

Telephone number

01223 331797, 01223 334372 (shared)

Email address

College