RUI: A Collaborative Investigation into the Aggregate-Induced Emission Phenomenon in Group 14 Metallole and Metallole-like Molecules

无机化学、生物无机化学和金属有机化学项目的这一合作RUI奖支持南缅因州大学的Henry J.Tracy教授、圣约瑟夫学院的Nicholas Benfaremo教授和新英格兰大学的Jerome L.Mullin教授合成和表征第14族金属化合物、金属荧烯及其衍生物的研究。研究的重点是这些化合物的光物理特性，特别是聚集诱导发射(AIE)行为，以及利用这些最有前途的新化合物构建的化学传感器、免疫分析方案和电致发光器件的发展。理论和实验研究将详细探讨AIE，以更好地洞察这种不寻常行为的起源，从而指导更多化合物的合成，努力生产出更高效的用于光电子器件的候选物种。将致力于合成具有不同溶解度、增强的自然发光和目标发射波长特性的衍生物。生产的新型化合物可能会被证明在有机发光二极管和其他设备的生产中有用。整个项目主题利用合作者及其机构的多样化和互补性优势，建立在现有合作的基础上，这些合作为本科生带来了更多的研究机会。这项研究倡议将在所有三个机构建设研究能力，并扩大三个主要本科机构的学生可以获得的研究经验的范围。女性的研究机会将受到特别的影响，她们占两所大学化学和生物化学专业学生的57%或更多。

This collaborative RUI award in the Inorganic, Bioinorganic and Organometallic Chemistry program supports research by Professor Henry J. Tracy at the University of Southern Maine, Professor Nicholas Benfaremo at St. Joseph's College, and Professor Jerome L. Mullin at University of New England to synthesize and characterize group 14 metalloles, metalla-fluorenes, and their derivatives. The research is focused on the photophysical characterization of these compounds, especially aggregate-induced-emission (AIE) behavior, and the development of chemical sensors, immunoassay schemes, and electroluminescent devices constructed using the most promising of the new compounds. Theoretical and experimental studies will explore AIE in detail, in order to gain improved insight into the origins of this unusual behavior, and thus guide synthesis of additional compounds in an effort to produce even more highly efficient candidate species for use in optoelectronic devices. Efforts will be directed toward the synthesis of derivatives with varying solubilities, enhanced native luminescence, and targeted emission wavelength characteristics. The novel compounds produced may prove to be useful in the production of OLEDs and other devices. The overall project theme takes advantage of the diverse and complementary strengths of the collaborators and their institutions, building on existing collaborations that have led to enhanced research opportunities for undergraduate students. This research initiative will build research capacity at all three institutions and expand the scope of research experiences that are available to students at the three primarily undergraduate institutions. Research opportunities for women, who make up 57% or more of the chemistry and biochemistry majors at each institution, will be particularly impacted.