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

Dynamic host-guest interactions at the interface between supramolecular chemistry and materials science
OA Scherman
ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2014)
247
Functionalization of nanocelluloses by supramolecular units for advanced properties
O Ikkala, JR Mckee, E Kontturi, M Karesoja, EA Appel, OA Scherman
ABSTRACTS OF PAPERS OF THE AMERICAN CHEMICAL SOCIETY
(2014)
247
pH-controlled release of auxin plant hormones from cucurbit[7]uril macrocycle
A Nuzzo, OA Scherman, P Mazzei, A Piccolo
Applied Adhesion Science
(2014)
4
Healable, Stable and Stiff Hydrogels: Combining Conflicting Properties Using Dynamic and Selective Three‐Component Recognition with Reinforcing Cellulose Nanorods
JR McKee, EA Appel, J Seitsonen, E Kontturi, OA Scherman, O Ikkala
Advanced Functional Materials
(2014)
24
A nanoparticle solution
EA Appel, OA Scherman
Nature materials
(2014)
13
A selective supramolecular photochemical sensor for dopamine
S Kasera, Z Walsh, J del Barrio, OA Scherman
Supramolecular Chemistry
(2014)
26
Self-Assembly and Photoinduced Optical Anisotropy in Dendronized Supramolecular Azopolymers
J del Barrio, E Blasco, C Toprakcioglu, A Koutsioubas, OA Scherman, L Oriol, C Sánchez-Somolinos
Macromolecules
(2014)
47
Photoresponsive Hybrid Raspberry-Like Colloids Based on Cucurbit[8]uril Host-Guest Interactions
Y Lan, Y Wu, A Karas, OA Scherman
Angewandte Chemie International Edition
(2014)
53
Nondestructive optical detection of monomer uptake in wood polymer composites.
A Farina, I Bargigia, E-R Janeček, Z Walsh, C D'Andrea, A Nevin, M Ramage, OA Scherman, A Pifferi
Optics letters
(2014)
39
Supramolecular colloidosomes: fabrication, characterisation and triggered release of cargo.
G Stephenson, RM Parker, Y Lan, Z Yu, OA Scherman, C Abell
Chemical communications (Cambridge, England)
(2014)
50

Telephone number

01223 331797, 01223 334372 (shared)

Email address

College