Designing Supramolecular Complexes as Molecular Devices for Light to Energy Conversion: This project involves the design of molecular architectures for the general application of light to energy conversion, the development of synthesis techniques to prepare supramolecular complexes, the characterization of the properties of these supramolecular complexes, and the study of their application as functioning molecular devices.
| The design of supramolecular complexes builds large complicated molecular assemblies using smaller buillding blocks that maintain their individual function within the supramolecular device. The types of building blocks of interest to our group include: |
| Light Absorbers: Typically ruthenium and osmium coordination complexes with polyazine ligands. Our group has expertise in the design and preparation of light absorbers for many applications. Light absorbers can be designed for charge transfer excitation (MLCT, LMCT, MMCT) and intraligand transitions. Light absorbers are available in the UV, Visible and Near Infrared. |
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| Bridging Ligands: Typical bridging ligands used are polyazine ligands that allow chelating to multiple metal centers and allows these ligands to function as connectors. |
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| Electron Donors (ED), Electron Acceptors (EA), Electron Collectors (EC), Bioactive Sites (BAS) are other commonly used building blocks. |
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Synthetic methods follow a building block approach to molecular design and construction.
