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

无机、生物无机和有机金属化学项目的RUI合作奖支持南缅因大学的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14族金属、金属芴及其衍生物的研究。研究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，以及化学传感器、免疫分析方案和利用最有前途的新化合物构建的电致发光器件的发展。理论和实验研究将详细探索AIE，以便更好地了解这种不寻常行为的起源，从而指导其他化合物的合成，努力生产用于光电器件的更高效的候选物质。我们将努力合成具有不同溶解度、增强天然发光和目标发射波长特征的衍生物。所产生的新化合物可能在oled和其他器件的生产中被证明是有用的。整个项目主题利用了合作者及其机构的多样性和互补性优势，以现有的合作为基础，为本科生提供了更多的研究机会。这项研究计划将建立这三所大学的研究能力，并扩大这三所主要本科院校学生可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，她们在每个机构的化学和生物化学专业中占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.