Molecular Photonic Materials

化学、结构、动力学和机制项目支持约翰霍普金斯大学的Gerald Meyer教授的工作，以开展与太阳能燃料发电相关的分子-半导体界面上光引发键断裂和键形成反应机制的基础研究。拟议的研究将特别关注半导体界面分子的电子转移行为的量化，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相关性。提出的研究本质上是基础性的，但与高效光催化材料的发展直接相关。提出的分子和材料将使人们能够解决与太阳能转化分子细节相关的长期基础界面科学问题，这在20年前是不可能的。通过参与这项基础研究，本科生和研究生水平的学生将在分子-半导体界面的动力学和热力学表征方面得到强化训练。本课程将培养学生在分子配位化学、催化、光化学和光电化学等跨学科领域的能力。这些研究的结果被设想为有一天能够合理地设计出能够收集阳光、矢量电荷分离和多电子转移催化形成有用燃料的集成材料。

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.