Polymer seminars

A seminar by Professor Steve Evans from the Department of Physics and Astronomy at the University of Leeds, at the Department of Chemistry (Sheffield), lecture theatre 1. All welcome.

Chemistry Dept. Lecture Theatre 1

Seminar by Dr Jason Davis from the Inorganic Chemistry Laboratory at the University of Oxford.

The generation of functionally-active biomolecular monolayers is important in both analytical science and biophysical analyses. Our ability to monitor the redox-active state of immobilised proteins or enzymes at a molecular level, from which stochastic and surface-induced variations would be apparent, is impeded by comparatively slow electron transfer kinetics and associated signal:noise difficulties.  We demonstrate herein that, by covalently tethering an appropriate dye to the copper protein azurin, a highly oxidation-state sensitive FRET process can be established which enables redox switching to be optically monitored at protein levels down to the zeptomolar limit.  The surface-potential induced cycling of emission enables the redox potential of clusters of a few hundred molecules to be determined.

The interfacing of biomolecule with electrode is also analysed at the single molecule level by combinations of conductive probe AFM and electrochemical STM where conductance switches across an order of magnitude can be measured.  Finally, progress towards the femtomolar detection of protein binding events at suitably engineered surfaces will be discussed

by Professor Wilhelm Huck of the Melville Laboratory for Polymer Synthesis, University of Cambridge

The natural world uses macromolecules to store and exchange information, provide structural integrity, convert chemical to mechanical energy and efficiently catalyze chemical transformations. To bridge the gap between biology and nanofabrication, we focus on surfaces that achieve properties through complex structures delicately crafted at the nanometre scale and use of responsive macromolecules that adapt to external stimuli. The past decade has witnessed an explosion of techniques to control structure and properties of polymer thin films on the nanometre scale. These developments pave the way to functional responsive surfaces of controlled lateral and vertical composition, for applications in optoelectronics, memory storage devices and displays, and bio-responsive materials.

Chemistry Department: Lecture Theatre 6

A nanotechnology brainstorm led by Dr Giuseppe Battaglia. Speakers so far: Professor Richard Jones, Professor Tony Ryan, Professor Gill Tozer.

CBTE website news