Research Interests
Open to PhD applications in:
- Fluorescent sensors
- Supramolecular chemistry
- Molecular logic
- Molecular machines and devices
Public outreach & key achievements
- The DNA of Innovation, vol. 4, ‘Our Global Impact on Society’, Queen’s University Belfast Publication, 10 November 2014, p 24. “Supermolecules from the Land of Serendipity”
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Chemistry World, 23 March 2015, (reported by P. Ball) “Simple Chemistry Mimics Animals' Predator Spotting Method”
- ChemistryViews, 7 April 2015,(reported by D. Bradley) “An Outline for Molecular Edge Detection”
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Nature Chemistry, 22 April 2015, Print version May 2015 volume 7, number 5, p 368 (reported by A. Pichon) “Detection on the Edge”
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Materials Today, 15 June 2015, (reported by D. Bradley) “Genuine molecular drawing package”
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Presentation by the Royal Society of Chemistry (RSC) to Parliamentarians and Policymakers, Churchill Room, Houses of Parliament, London, 7 July 2015, (one of only 9 studies featured) “Inspirational chemistry for a modern economy”
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RSC News July 2015 (Cover story)(reported by V. Marshall and R. Walker) (one of only 2 studies featured) “Making the Case for Chemistry”
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Belfast Telegraph, 17 July 2015, Print version 17 July p. 17 “QUB prof de Silva's blood pressure device is worldwide hit”
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Authorea 20 December 2017, Backstories “How Fluorescent PET Sensors/switches Happened and What They Do”
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Materials Today, 26 January 2019, (reported by D. Bradley) “Sensing molecular logic”
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SpectroscopyNOW.com 1 February 2019, (reported by D. Bradley) “From NIR to eternity: Logically speaking”
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Nature Research interactive periodic table to celebrate its 150th anniversary, 6 February 2019, (invited by C. Hansell and produced by G. Marsh) “Mini-podcast on sodium”
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ChemViews 10 July 2019, (reported by S. Uchiyama) “Probing Nanosized Micelles with Fluorescent Sensors”
Research students
| PhD title | Application of Molecular Switching and Logic |
| Years of study | 2017-2019 |
| Country | P.R. China |
| PhD title | Indicator Displacement Assays with Cyclophane hosts |
| Years of study | 2018-2020 |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| PhD title | Synthesis of an expanded cyclophane for switchable guest capture/release |
| Years of study | 2018-2020 |
| Country | P.R. China |
Alumni: Where are they now
| PhD title | Fluorescent sensors based on various hosts |
| Years of study | 1994-1996 |
| Country | Ireland |
| Current Position | Professor, Trinity College Dublin |
| PhD title | Switches based on crown ethers, cyclophanes and amino acids |
| Years of study | 1999-2001 |
| Country | Northern Ireland |
| Current Position | Vice-President, Almac Sciences, Craigavon, Northern Ireland |
| PhD title | Application of fluorescent molecular logic to edge detection |
| Years of study | 2013-2015 |
| Country | P.R. China |
| Current Position | Assistant Professor, Nantong University, P.R. China |