I received my MChem from the University of Leeds in 2012 and it was during my Master's research project that my passion for ultrafast laser spectroscopy was sparked. Pursuing this passion led me to do a PhD in Chemistry at the University of Warwick in Prof. Vasilios Stavros's research group, which I completed in 2016. During this PhD, my research focused on three areas: (1) The ultrafast photodynamics pathways of ultraviolet chromophores in biological systems, such as eumelanin; (2) The photodissociation of Ru(II) metal-complexes as a potential method to bypass the antibiotic resistance mechanism in tuberculosis; and (3) The photoisomerization pathway of ferulic and caffeic acids.
After my PhD, I continued working in Prof. Vasilios Stavros's research group as a PDRA, building on the work on photoisomerization of hydroxycinnamates and how it could play a role in the design of a new generation of ultraviolet sunscreening molecules. This work developed an in-depth understanding of the photochemistry of sinapate esters, particularly sinapoyl malate, which is the natural ultraviolet photoprotective molecule in some plant leaves.
Once my PDRA position with Prof. Vasilios Stavros finished, I took up another PDRA post at the University of Leeds with Dr Alexander Valavanis, where I developed a frequency-resolved, vapour-phase spectroscopy system that utilized a terahertz-emitting quantum cascade laser and a TeraFET detector. The aim for this system was to probe important chemical species involved in atmospheric chemistry which, is especially useful as terahertz light can directly observe atomic oxygen.
My current position is a PDRA for both Prof. Jenny Clark and Prof. Julia Weinstein. My research focuses on vibrational strong coupling and the impact it has on photochemical processes. Using a bespoke microcavity capable of supporting cavity modes in the mid-infrared, these cavity modes are then strongly coupled to specific vibrational modes in Pt-based donor-bridge-acceptor molecules to determine if their photochemistry is altered.
8x8 Patch-Antenna-Coupled TeraFET Detector Array for Terahertz Quantum-Cascade-Laser Appications
J. Holstein , N. K. North , M. D. Horbury , S. S. Kondawar , I. Kundu , M. Salih , A. Krysl , Li. Li , E. H. Linfield , J. R. Freeman , A. Valavanis , A. Lisauskas, and H. G. Roskos, IEEE Trans. Terahertz Sci. Technol., 2024, 14, 799
Power Stabilization of a Terahertz-Frequency Quantum-Cascade Laser Using a Photonic-Integrated Modulator
S. S. Kondawar, N. K. North, Y. Han, D. Pardo, N. Brewster, M. D. Horbury, M. Salih, L. Li, P. Dean, J. R. Freeman, B. N. Ellison, I. Kundu, and A. Valavanis,
Opt. Express, 2024, 32, 30017
Waveguide Integration of a> 4.7‐THz Quantum‐Cascade Laser
E. Nuttall, Y. Han, D. Pardo, S. S. Kondawar, N. Brewster, M. Salih, L. Li, M. D. Horbury, A. G. Davies, E. H. Linfield, H. Wang, P. Dean, B. N. Ellison, and A. Valavanis, Electron. Lett., 2023, 59, e12703
Ultrafast Transient Absorption Spectroelectrochemistry: Femtosecond to Nanosecond Excited-State Relaxation Dynamics of the Individual Components of an Anthraquinone Redox Couple
S. Goia, M. A. P. Turner, J. M. Woolley, M. D. Horbury, A. J. Borrill, J. J. Tully, S. J. Cobb, M. Staniforth, N. D. M. Hine, A. Burriss, J. V. Macpherson, B. R. Robinson, and V. G. Stavros, Chem. Sci., 2022, 13, 486
New Generation UV-A Filters: Understanding Their Photodynamics on a Human Skin Mimic
T. T. Abiola, N. d. N. Rodrigues, C. Ho, D. J. L. Coxon, M. D. Horbury, J. M. Toldo, M. T. Do Casal, B. Rioux, C. Peyrot, M. M. Mention, P. Balaguer, M. Barbatti, F. Allais, and V. G. Stavros, J. Phys. Chem. Lett., 2020, 12, 337
Reinvestigating the Photoprotection Properties of a Mycosporine Amino Acid Motif
A. L. Whittock, M. A. P. Turner, D. J. L. Coxon, J. M. Woolley, M. D. Horbury, and V. G. Stavros, Front. Chem., 2020, 8, 574083
Exploring the Photochemistry of an Ethyl Sinapate Dimer: an Attempt Toward a Better Ultraviolet Filter
M. D. Horbury, M. A. P. Turner, J. S. Peters, M. Mention, A. L. Flourat, N. D. M. Hine, F. Allais, and V. G. Stavros, Front. Chem., 2020, 8, 633
Towards Symmetry Driven and Nature Inspired UV Filter Design
M. D. Horbury, E. L. Holt, L. M. M. Mouterde, P. Balaguer, J. Cebrián, L. Blasco, F. Allais, and V. G. Stavros, Nat. Commun., 2019, 10, 4748
Examining Solvent Effects on the Ultrafast Dynamics of Catechol
M. A. P Turner, R. J. Turner, M. D. Horbury, N. D. M. Hine, and V. G. Stavros, J. Chem. Phys., 2019, 151, 084305
The Role of Symmetric Functionalisation on Photoisomerisation of a UV Commercial Chemical Filter
J. M. Woolley, J. S. Peters, M. A. P. Turner, G. J. Clarkson, M. D. Horbury, and V. G. Stavros, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2019, 21, 14350
Determination of Secondary Species in Solution Through Pump-Selective Transient Absorption Spectroscopy and Explicit-Solvent TDDFT
M. A. P. Turner, M. D. Horbury, V. G. Stavros, and N. D. M. Hine, J. Phys. Chem. A, 2019, 123, 873
Unravelling the Photoprotection Properties of Mycosporine Amino Acid Motifs
J. M. Woolley, M. Staniforth, M. D. Horbury, G. W. Richings, M. Wills, and V. G. Stavros, J. Phys. Chem. Lett., 2018, 9, 3043
Spectroscopic Studies on Photoinduced Reactions of the Anticancer Prodrug, trans,trans,trans‐[Pt(N3)2(OH)2(py)2]
R. R. Vernooij, T. Joshi, M. D. Horbury, B. Graham, E. I. Izgorodina, V. G. Stavros, P. J. Sadler, L. Spiccia, and B. R. Wood, Chem. Eur. J., 2018, 24, 5790
Photophysics of the Sunscreen Ingredient Menthyl Anthranilate and its Precursor Methyl Anthranilate: A Bottom-Up Approach to Photoprotection
N. d. N Rodrigues, N. C. Cole-Filipiak, M. D. Horbury, M. Staniforth, T. N. V. Karsili, Y. Peperstraete, and V. G. Stavros, J. Photochem. Photobiol., 2018, 353, 376
Investigating Isomer Specific Photoprotection in a Model Plant Sunscreen
M. D. Horbury, A. L. Flourat, S. E. Greenough, F. Allais, and V. G. Stavros, Chem. Commun., 2018, 54, 936
Observation of Excited State Absorption in the V-Cr Prussian Blue Analogue
L. Hedley, M. D. Horbury, F. Liedy, and J. O. Johansson, Chem. Phys. Lett., 2017, 687, 125
Controlled Fabrication of Osmium Nanocrystals by Electron, Laser and Microwave Irradiation and Characterisation by Microfocus X-ray Absorption Spectroscopy
A. Pitto-Barry, K. Geraki, M. D. Horbury, V. G. Stavros, J. F. W. Mosselmans, R. I. Walton, P. J. Sadler, and N. P. E. Barry, Chem. Commun., 2017, 53, 12898
Combatting AMR: Photoactivatable Ruthenium (II)-Isoniazid Complex Exhibits Rapid Selective Antimycobacterial Activity
N. A. Smith, P. Zhang, S. E. Greenough, M. D. Horbury, G. J. Clarkson, D. McFeely, A. Habtemariam, L. Salassa, V. G. Stavros, C. G. Dowson, and P. J. Sadler, Chem. Sci., 2017, 8, 395
Elucidating Nuclear Motions in a Plant Sunscreen During Photoisomerization Through Solvent Viscosity Effects
M. D. Horbury, W.-D. Quan, A. L. Flourat, F. Allais, and V. G. Stavros, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2017, 19, 21127
Photoisomerization of Ethyl Ferulate: A Solution Phase Transient Absorption Study
M. D. Horbury, L. A. Baker, N. D. N. Rodrigues, W.-D. Quan, and V. G. Stavros, Chem. Phys. Lett., 2017, 673, 62
Ultrafast Photoprotective Properties of the Sunscreening Agent Octocrylene
L. A. Baker, M. D. Horbury, and V. G. Stavros, Opt. Express., 2016, 24, 10700
Photodynamics of Potent Antioxidants: Ferulic and Caffeic Acids
M. D. Horbury, L. A. Baker, W.-D. Quan, S. E. Greenough, and V. G. Stavros, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2016, 18, 17691
Ultrafast Photoprotecting Sunscreens in Natural Plants
L. A. Baker, M. D. Horbury, S. E. Greenough, F. Allais, P. S. Walsh, S. Habershon, and V. G. Stavros, J. Phys. Chem. Lett., 2016, 7, 56
Excited‐State Dynamics of a Two‐Photon‐Activatable Ruthenium Prodrug
S. E. Greenough, M. D. Horbury, N. A. Smith, P. J. Sadler, M. J. Paterson, and V. G. Stavros, ChemPhysChem, 2016, 17, 221
Bridging the Gap between the Gas Phase and Solution Phase: Solvent Specific Photochemistry in 4-tert-Butylcatechol
M. D. Horbury, L. A. Baker, W.-D. Quan, J. D. Young, M. Staniforth, S. E. Greenough, and V. G. Stavros, J. Phys. Chem. A., 2015, 119, 11989
Broadband Ultrafast Photoprotection by Oxybenzone Across the UVB and UVC Spectral Regions
L. A. Baker, M. D. Horbury, S. E Greenough, M. N. R. Ashfold, and V. G. Stavros, Photochem. Photobiol. Sci., 2015, 14, 1814
Probing the Ultrafast Energy Dissipation Mechanism of the Sunscreen Oxybenzone after UVA Irradiation
M. D. Horbury, L. A. Baker, S. E. Greenough, P. M. Coulter, T. N. V. Karsili, G. M. Roberts, A. J. Orr-Ewing, M. N. R. Ashfold, and V. G. Stavros, J. Phys. Chem. Lett., 2015, 6, 1363
Ultrafast Photo-Induced Ligand Solvolysis of cis-[Ru(bipyridine)2(nicotinamide)2]2+: Experimental and Theoretical Insight into its Photoactivation Mechanism
S. E. Greenough, G. M. Roberts, N. A. Smith, M. D. Horbury, R. G. McKinlay, J. M. Żurek, M. J. Paterson, P. J. Sadler, and V. G. Stavros, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2014, 16, 19141
Solvent Induced Conformer Specific Photochemistry of Guaiacol
S. E. Greenough, M. D. Horbury, J. O. F. Thompson, G. M. Roberts, T. N. V. Karsili, B. Marchetti, D. Townsend, and V. G. Stavros, Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2014, 16, 16187