Publications
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[1] Lewis A. Baker, Michael D. Horbury, Simon E. Greenough, Philip M. Coulter, Tolga N. V. Karsili, Gareth M. Roberts, Andrew J. Orr-Ewing, Michael N. R. Ashfold, and Vasilios G. Stavros. Probing the Ultrafast Energy Dissipation Mechanism of the Sunscreen Oxybenzone after UVA Irradiation. J. Phys. Chem. Lett., 2015, 6(8):1363–1368.
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A study of the ultrafast energy deposition mechanism using time-resolved transient electronic and transient vibrational absorption spectroscopy, in a collaboration with the in Bristol.
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[2] Michael D. Horbury, Lewis A. Baker, Wen-Dong Quan, Jamie D. Young, Michael Staniforth, Simon E. Greenough, and Vasilios G. Stavros. Bridging the Gap between the Gas and Solution Phase: Solvent Specific Photochemistry in 4-tert-Butylcatechol. J. Phys. Chem. A, 2015, 119(50):11989-11996. .
A study of the ultrafast dynamics of 4-tert-Butylcatechol in both the gas phase and the solution phase presenting a comparative study highlighting how the presence of a solvent causes particular mechanisms to become out competed with those seen in the gas phase.
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[3] Lewis A. Baker, Michael D. Horbury, Simon E. Greenough, Michael N. R. Ashfold and Vasilios G. Stavros. Broadband ultrafast photoprotection by oxybenzone across the UVB and UVC spectral regions. Photochem. Photobiol. Sci. 2015, 14(10):1814-1820. .
We extended on previous work [1], to understand how the photodynamics of oxybenzone are affected after photoexcitation in different spectral regions.
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[4] Lewis A. Baker and Scott Habershon. Robustness, efficiency, and optimality in the Fenna-Matthews-Olson photosynthetic pigment-protein complex. J. Chem. Phys. 2015, 143(10): 105101. .
We examined the robustness and efficiency characteristics of the FMO pigment protein using a network-based analysis, considering a simple description of the environment the protein resides in, as well as the possibility of the loss of chromophores from the network. A simple quantum master equation approach is used throughout.
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[5] Wen-Dong Quan, Anaïs Pitto-Barry, Lewis A. Baker, Eugen Stulz, Richard Napier, Rachel K. O'Reilly and Vasilios G. Stavros. Retaining Individualities: the Photodynamics of Self-Ordering Porphyrin Assemblies. Chem. Commun. 2015, 52, 1938-1941 . .
An interdisciplinary study of photodynamics of porphyrin structures with varied complexity.
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[6] Lewis A. Baker, Michael D. Horbury, Simon E. Greenough, Florent Allais, Patrick S. Walsh, Scott Habershon and Vasilios G. Stavros. Ultrafast Photoprotecting Sunscreens in Natural Plants. J. Phys. Chem. Lett., 2016, 7, 56-61. .
A study into the photophysical protection mechanism used by naturally synthesised biomolecules deposited in the upper epidermis of plant leaves.
Self-archive: article and SI ; ; .
[7] Lewis A. Baker, Michael D. Horbury and Vasilios G. Stavros. Ultrafast photoprotective properties of the sunscreening agent octocrylene. Opt. Express, 2016, 24(10):10700-10709.
We look at one of the most commonly used ingredients in commercial sunscreens, octocrylene. Using femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy we show just how quick and efficient octocrylene can be as a sunscreening agent.
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[8] Michael D. Horbury, Lewis A. Baker, Wen-Dong Quan, Simon E. Greenough and Vasilios G. Stavros. Photodynamics of potent antioxidants: ferulic and caffeic acids. Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2016, Accepted.
We look at hydroxycinnamic molecules which display strong UV absorption. Trans - cis isomerisation is suggested to occur on ultrafast time scales, making these molecules promising sunscreen components.
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[9] Lewis A. Baker and Vasilios G. Stavros. Observing and understanding the ultrafast photochemistry in small molecules: applications to sunscreens. Science Progress, 2016, 99(3):282-311. .
We provide an accessible introduction to photochemistry, transient absorption spectroscopy and the field of sunscreens. We provide some recent case studies of sunscreen molecules (oxybenzone and sinapoyl malate) and how the relaxation mechanisms displayed by them might be interpreted.
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[10] Yoann Peperstraete, Michael Staniforth, Lewis A. Baker, Natercia D. N. Rodrigues, Neil C. Cole-Filipiak, Wen-Dong Quan and Vasilios G. Stavros. Bottom-up excited state dynamics of two cinnamate-based sunscreen filter molecules. 2016, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., .
In this work we look at two cinnamate-based derivatives in both the gas- and solution-phase, one of which is used in commercial sunscreen products, the other is a simpler molecular analogue which provides a 'bottom-up' approach to understanding the former.
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[11] Lewis A. Baker, Lucy C. Grosvenor, Michael N. R. Ashfold, Vasilios G. Stavros. Ultrafast Photophysical Studies of a Multicomponent Sunscreen: Oxybenzone - Titanium Dioxide Mixtures. 2016, Chem. Phys. Lett., 664, 39-43. .
This work focuses on the combination of two sunscreen components, oxybenzone which has been well studied, and titanium dioxide, to understand the dynamics of this multi-component system.
Self-archive: article and SI ; ; .
[12] Lewis. A. Baker, Simon E. Greenough and Vasilios G. Stavros. A Perspective on the Ultrafast Photochemistry of Solution-phase Sunscreen Molecules. 2016, J. Phys. Chem. Lett., 7(22), 4655–4665.
A perspective covering recent advances in the field of photochemistry and solution-phase transient absorption spectroscopy as applied to understanding sunscreen molecules, and an outline of future research directions.
Self-archive: article
[13] Michael D. Horbury, Lewis A. Baker, Natércia D.N. Rodrigues, Wen-Dong Quan, Vasilios G. Stavros. Photoisomerization of Ethyl Ferulate: A Solution Phase Transient Absorption Study. 2017, Chem. Phys. Lett., Accepted.
[14] Lewis A. Baker, Sarah L. Clark, Scott Habershon, and Vasilios G. Stavros. Ultrafast Transient Absorption Spectroscopy of the Sunscreen Constituent Ethylhexyl Triazone. 2017, J. Phys. Chem. Lett. Accepted.
[15] Lewis A. Baker, Barbara Marchetti, Tolga N. V. Karsili, Vasilios G. Stavros and Michael N. R. Ashfold. Photoprotection: extending lessons learned from studying natural sunscreens to the design of artificial sunscreen constituents. 2017, Chem. Soc. Rev. Accepted.
[16] Lewis A. Baker and Scott Habershon, Photosynthetic pigment-protein complexes as highly connected networks: implications for robust energy transport. 2017, Proc. R. Soc. A. 473: 20170112.
Posters, talks and conferences
Faraday Joint Interest Group Conference, University of 海角社区, 2017.
Computational molecular science (CMS), University of 海角社区, 2017.
Bright spark symposium, 海角社区, 2016.
Talk: Ultrafast Photochemistry - Applications to 'Artificial' and 'Natural' sunscreens.
Postgraduate Chemistry Symposium, 海角社区, 2016.
Poster: Octocrylene, one of the world's most popular sunscreen ingredients.
MOAC annual conference, Lake District, 2016.
Talk: Network-based analysis of a model photosynthetic system.
Poster: Octocrylene, one of the world's most popular sunscreen ingredients.
Theory group seminar, Technical University of Munich, 2016.
Talk: Network-based analysis of a model photosynthetic system.
Spectroscopy and dynamics group (SDG), University of 海角社区, 2016.
Poster: Ultrafast Photoprotecting Sunscreens in Natural Plants
Café Academique, University of 海角社区, 2015.
Talk: Network-based analysis of a model photosynthetic system.
International Meeting on Atomic and Molecular Physics and Chemistry (IMAMPC), University of Birmingham, 2015.
Poster: Ultrafast photochemistry: plant UV-B sunscreens.
Institute of chemical biology inter-CDT conference, Imperial College London, 2015.
Poster: Probing the ultrafast broadband energy dissipation mechanism of the sunscreen oxybenzone.
MOAC annual conference, Wilderhope, 2015.
Poster: Probing the ultrafast broadband energy dissipation mechanism of the sunscreen oxybenzone.
Computational molecular science (CMS), University of 海角社区, 2015.
Poster: Robustness and optimality in Fenna-Matthews-Olson protein networks.
Café Academique, University of 海角社区, 2015.
Talk: Ultrafast Photochemistry of Sunscreens.
Spectroscopy and dynamics group (SDG), University of Nottingham, 2015.
Poster: Probing the ultrafast energy dissipation mechanism of the sunscreen oxybenzone.