Physical Organic Chemistry
Energy surface
The Physical Organic Chemistry (POC) research group covers a very broad range of studies in both fundamental and applied POC. On the fundamental side, detailed mathematical models of reaction kinetics and dynamics are being developed, and tested against experimental facts. The applications of POC techniques to problems ranging from the properties of proteins containing non-natural amino acids, through the design of sensors for specific base-pair sequences in DNA, to the use of solar energy to generate fuels for transport are being investigated. The POC Centre is well equipped with specialised apparatus: for example, nanosecond laser flash photolysis and isothermal titration calorimetry equipment, as well as having the full range of more traditional instruments, such as GC-mass and UV/vis spectrometers.
In addition to the experimental work in the Centre, the researchers make extensive use of computational methods in, for example, molecular dynamics and electronic-structure theory.
This centre is supported by a major grant of £4.1 million from EPSRC and HEFCW, under the Science and Innovation Awards scheme. The centre is headed by Professor Barry Carpenter, who joins us from Cornell University. Drs Niek Buurma and Eric Tippmann are lecturers Physical Organic Chemistry.