CAREER: Controlling non-adiabatic reaction dynamics in solution: A window on the fundamental details of photochemical reactions

在美国国家科学基金会化学部化学结构、动力学和机制计划的支持下，堪萨斯大学克里斯托弗·埃利斯教授领导的一个小组将利用时间分辨光谱研究变色光致变色分子开关的超快激发态动力学。他们的研究将探索控制这些分子在吸收一个或多个光子后从一个异构体向另一个异构体转化的基本细节。例如，不同的激发方案允许通过不同的反应路径探测通过圆锥形交叉口的动力学。选择性地控制一系列模型化合物的动力学将提供对光化学和光物理中普遍存在的非绝热转变的新见解，此外还将对将要研究的光致变色化合物的性质和局限性提供详细的见解。这些实验的结果将广泛应用于理解光子引发的化学反应的动力学。除了广泛的科学影响，这项为期五年的计划还包括一个教育推广计划，该计划将培训未来的科学教师将高级主题纳入高中课程。该教育计划将吸引参加英国教师资格认证计划的本科生，并与他们合作制定新的教学计划，将化学动力学领域的关键概念转化为课堂。为未来的中学科学教师提供有意义的科学培训将增强研究的影响，并使与现代研究直接相关的高中课程充满活力。

With support from the Chemical Structure, Dynamics, and Mechanisms Program in the Chemistry Division of the National Science Foundation, a group led by Professor Christopher Elles at the University of Kansas will study the ultrafast excited-state dynamics of color-changing photochromic molecular switches using time-resolved spectroscopy. Their research will probe the fundamental details that control the transformations of these molecules from one isomer to another following absorption of one or more photons. For example, different excitation schemes allow the dynamics through a conical intersection to be probed via different reaction pathways. Selectively controlling the dynamics for a range of model compounds will provide new insight on the non-adiabatic transitions that are ubiquitous in photochemistry and photophysics, in addition to providing detailed insight on the properties and limitations of the photochromic compounds that will be studied. The results of these experiments will be widely applicable to understanding the dynamics of photon-initiated chemical reactions. In addition to the broad scientific impact, this five-year program also includes an educational outreach program that will train future science teachers to incorporate advanced topics into the high school curriculum. The educational program will engage undergraduate students enrolled in the UKanTeach teacher licensure program and work with them to develop novel lesson plans that will translate key concepts from the field of chemical dynamics into the classroom. Providing meaningful scientific training for prospective secondary science teachers will enhance the impact of the research and invigorate the high school curriculum with a direct connection to modern research.