Molecular Photonic Materials

化学、结构、动力学和机制计划支持约翰·霍普金斯大学的杰拉尔德·迈耶教授开展与太阳能燃料发电相关的分子-半导体界面上的光引发键断裂和键形成反应机制的基础研究。建议的研究将特别侧重于量化分子在半导体界面的电子转移行为，以及这种行为与与金属-配体和碳-碳键形成相关的电荷转移动力学的关联。拟议的研究在本质上是基础性的，但与高效光催化材料的开发直接相关。所提出的分子和材料将使人们能够解决与太阳能转换相关的长期存在的基本界面科学问题，这在20年前也是不可能的。通过参与这项基础研究，本科生和研究生将接受分子-半导体界面的动力学和热力学表征方面的强化培训。这项建议将在跨学科领域培养学生，特别是分子配位化学、催化、光化学和光电化学。这些研究的结果预计有朝一日能够实现合理的分子水平的集成材料设计，能够收集阳光、矢量电荷分离和多电子转移催化形成有用的燃料。

The Chemical, Structure, Dynamics, and Mechanism program supports work by Professor Gerald Meyer at Johns Hopkins University to carry out fundamental studies on the mechanisms of photo-initiated bond-breaking and bond-forming reactions at molecular-semiconductor interfaces relevant to solar fuels generation. Proposed studies will specifically focus on quantification of the electron transfer behavior of molecules at semiconductor interfaces and correlation of this behavior with charge transfer kinetics relevant to the formation of metal-ligand and carbon-carbon bonds. The proposed studies are fundamental in nature, but are directly relevant to the development of efficient photocatalytic materials. The molecules and materials proposed will enable one to address long-standing fundamental interfacial science questions relevant to solar energy conversion in molecular detail that was not possible even twenty years ago. Through participation in this fundamental research, students at the undergraduate and graduate level will receive intensive training in characterization of the kinetics and thermodynamics of molecular-semiconductor interfaces. This proposal will train students in interdisciplinary areas with particular focus on molecular coordination chemistry, catalysis, photochemistry, and photoelectrochemistry. Results from these studies are envisioned to one day enable the rational molecular-level design of integrated materials capable of harvesting sunlight, vectorial charge separation, and multi-electron transfer catalysis to form useful fuels.