David L. Andrews

tel: 44 16 0359 2014
fax: 44 16 0359 2003
E-mail: d.l.andrews@uea.ac.uk
Web: http://www.uea.ac.uk/~c051

Area of Expertise

Fundamental molecular photonics and energy transport, optomechanical forces and nonlinear optical phenomena

Biography

David Andrews leads research on fundamental molecular photonics and energy transport, optomechanical forces and nonlinear optical phenomena. He has over 160 research papers and also eight books to his name - including the widely adopted textbook Lasers in Chemistry. The current focus of his research group is on novel mechanisms for optical nanomanipulation and switching, and light-harvesting in nanostructured molecular systems. The group enjoys strong international links, particularly with groups in Canada, Lithuania, New Zealand and the United States. Andrews is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, and a Fellow of the Institute of Physics, and he is the inaugural Chair of the SPIE Nanotechnology Technical Group.

Lecture Title(s)

Energy Harvesting Materials
With the unfolding of detailed mechanisms and structures involved in natural photosynthesis, new avenues are opening in the science of light harvesting. Distinctively different from traditional solar cell technology, research and development in this area focuses on nanostructured polymers whose operating principles designedly mimic Nature. As the characterization of biosystems continues apace, new and increasingly sophisticated materials are being devised for specific device applications. In this colorful presentation the photonic principles of light-harvesting nanomaterials are explained with reference to key processes, and illustrated by novel systems such as dendrimeric polymers. A link with the operation of some crystalline materials for frequency up-conversion is also exhibited.