Earth-Abundant Photosensitisers

Complexes of precious metals represent some of the prototypical photosensisiters and are widely employed in photonic/photochemical technologies (e.g. photovoltaics, electroluminescent devices, luminescent sensing, photo(redox)catalysis, photon upconversion, bioimaging, photodynamic therapy).

In these projects, we develop first-row transition-metal complexes as earth-abundant alternatives to precious metal photosensitisers, spectroscopically investigate their photophysical and photochemical properties, and test their viability in photonic/photochemical applications.

Ligand Exploration

In recent years, novel ligand designs have vastly widened the scope of classes of photoactive coordination compounds, and played a pivotal role in designing complexes with tailored properties.

In these projects, we explore new ligand designs and how they influence the electronic structure and photophysical properties of photoactive complexes. Focusses include new/reinvigorated coordinating motif and the incorporation of supramolecular interactions.

Photochemistry for Sustainable Synthesis

Chemical synthesis, particularly the synthesis of natural products and their analogues for drug development, can be extremely inefficient and wasteful. Photoredox catalysis and energy-transfer catalysis are powerful new approaches to generate chemical complexity with high efficiency and low waste, by exploiting the energy contained in visible light.

In these projects, we utilise photoredox catalysis and energy-transfer catalysis to efficiently access natural products and their analogues that are either elusive or resource intensive through traditional synthetic chemistry. We also mechanistically study these reactions, to build understanding of how photochemistry can be applied to target particular regioselective/stereoselective outcomes.

Pollution Remediation

Pollution of waterways as a consequence of agriculture and horticulture is a major issue in New Zealand. Most agricultural and horticultural pollutants (fertilisers, pesticides) exist in high oxidation states. In these projects, we develop, study and test water-soluble photoreductants for pollution remediation.