Dr Nicholas Power

Research interests

Our research objectives lie in the many facets of supramolecular chemistry, a branch of chemistry that is based on principles of self-organization of small molecules in to well define molecular architectures. These interactions use non-covalent methods such as hydrogen bonding, metal coordination, van der Waals forces, hydrophobic forces, electrostatic forces, cation-pi and pi-pi interactions. Theses are some of the forces at play in complex biological systems. In particular, the development of confined chemical environments through self assembly, such as nano-capsules, afford us an opportunity to systematically study molecular interactions under a significantly less imposing and less complex environment than those of biological systems. This knowledge can help facilitate the design of nano-capsules as molecular conduits for targeted delivery of potent drugs to cancer cells for example. The knowledge generated is used in the design of nanocapsules or ‘ligand halos’ for metal nanoparticles as molecular conduits for targeted delivery for therapeutic or diagnostic approaches.

Some important applications may also include molecular self-assembly, molecular recognition, host-guest chemistry, and crystal engineering to list a few. Our research requires a multidisciplinary approach for investigations. More recently, collaborations have made use of a range of calixarene derivatives and their application in the synthesis of nanomaterials (carbon quantum dots (CQD), graphene quantum dots (GQD), Silver-graphene nano-composites, and MXenes, with diverse properties suitable for ion sensing, antimicrobial activity, oil sequestration for example. Our interest in MXenes and Borophene,has diversified our research and collaborations particularly in respect to water treatment and energy storage.

External collaborations

Prof Satheesh Krishnamurthy (Director of Surrey Ion Beam Center, University of Surrey)

Prof Daniel Assumpcao Bertuol (Universidade Federal de Santa Maria, Brazil)

Prof Marianny Y Combariza (Industrial University of Santander, Columbia)

Prof Scott J Dalgarno (Heriot-Watt University)

Prof. Jerry L Atwood (University of Missouri, USA)