Colloidal Semiconductors for Macromolecular Recognition, Open Framework Structures, and Nonlinear Optical Applications

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This award is the starter grant increment of Dr. Murphy's Postdoctoral Research Fellowship in Chemistry. The research deals with the synthesis of colloidal semiconductors and their application to molecular recognition by DNA, open framework structures and tuneable nonlinear optical materials. In the molecular recognition studies, colloidal CdS and CdSe will be used as an inorganic mimic of the globular protein histones about which DNA strands wrap themselves. The luminescence spectrum of the semiconductor cores upon irradiation will provide insights into the nature and mechanism of DNA wrapping and unraveling that accompanies DNA replication and transcription. Hollow spheres of CdS and CdSe, which may exhibit unusual photoluminescence, will also be prepared and embedded in polymer films and sol-gel glasses. These materials should be attractive for nonlinear optical applications. Since the luminescence of CdS and CdSe is sensitive to surface adsorbates, nonlinear optical properties can be tuned by adsorption of molecules on the encapsulated colloids. %%% Quantum-sized colloidal semiconductors have size and surface properties which lend themselves to a variety of diagnostic and optical applications of academic and technological significance.