Saymore Mutsamwira
Doctor of Philosophy, (Chemistry)
Study Completed: 2015
College of Sciences
Citation
Thesis Title
Towards DNA-Chromophore Supramolecular Assemblies for Photon Upconversion
Read article at Massey Research Online: 
The use of DNA, after Watson and Crick (1953) proposed the double helix has expanded extensively in various fields including drug design, nanotechnology and chemical synthesis. Photon energy upconversion (EU) is a well-known phenomenon which has potential practical applications in solar cell technology, cancer treatment through photodynamic therapy, and wavelength shifting materials. EU through a triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA) mechanism offers the advantage of utilising non-coherent light sources such as solar irradiation. TTA-based EU requires that the molecules of interest be in close proximity and there is the concentration dependence of the requisite molecules. Mr Mutsamwira successfully used DNA to bring model molecules in close enough contact leading to EU at lower concentrations than previously observed in solution systems. His work provides a framework to improve EU for practical applications.
Supervisors
Associate Professor Eric Ainscough
Associate Professor Ashton Partridge
Dr Vyacheslav Filichev
Professor Mark Waterland