Research
Research interest in the Scott group is focused on the design, synthesis, and characterization of advanced organic materials – specifically materials containing silicon atom. We utilize the tools of organic chemistry to create small molecules and macromolecules with interesting properties and functions – specifically biological properties and functions. A major goal of ours is to develop a design-by-properties approach to combine interesting properties in a material for specific applications. Due to the design-by-properties and function approach, the application of our research interests can be broad.We have developed silicon containing small molecules for application in biological imaging and detection of selective analytes.
Another area of interest in the Scott group is in the preparation of organic thin films formed by chemical transformations of macromolecules on the surface of various substrates. Our interest is to elucidate the molecular origins of the self-assembly processes in order to control the supramolecular organization of organic molecules and macromolecules. Chemists and materials scientists are particularly interested in developing new methodologies that allow for the "controlled" synthesis of large supramolecular assemblies with well-defined structures. Such assemblies are ubiquitous in nature (e.g. cell membranes, liquid crystals, proteins, etc.) and typically form spontaneously under the influence of forces that are poorly understood. Our work is highly interdisciplinary; consequently students and postdocs are exposed to wide variety of equipment and characterization techniques for organic synthesis, thin films, polymers, and biomaterials.