Novel Exciplexes

有了这个奖项，化学结构，动力学和机制B计划支持教授约瑟夫P. Dinnocenzo在罗切斯特大学的研究。Dinnocenzo教授和他的学生研究了新型激基复合物（激发态复合物），特别是阳离子（带正电荷）激基复合物。这些研究活动提供了有关电子转移和新型激基复合物的基础知识。 形成激基复合物的物质具有作为传感器、作为生物探针和在有机发光二极管（OLED）中的潜在应用。由于它们在水中的溶解性，阳离子激基复合物具有增强的生物成像应用开发潜力。该研究为本科生，研究生和博士后学生提供了丰富的教育经验，在合成，电化学和时间分辨光谱学。这项研究专门吸引关岛大学（美国领土上的少数族裔机构）的本科生参加夏季研究机会。 这个群体在科学，技术，工程和数学（STEM）中的代表性不足。该项目研究了最近在Dinnocenzo实验室发现的两种新型电荷转移激基复合物中间体。一种类型的激基复合物通过阳离子激发态受体与中性供体的反应形成。研究目标包括通过辐射寿命的理论拟合来确定激基复合物（例如电子耦合矩阵元素）的电子性质，所述辐射寿命由时间相关单光子计数（TCSPC）和荧光光谱确定。该项目通过测量阳离子激基复合物的一些物理性质，在各种介质（包括水）中检查阳离子激基复合物，以及合成分子内实例来扩展阳离子激基复合物的一般性。一个相关的项目调查了Dinnocenzo教授实验室发现的例子，其中从单个受体和供体观察到两个激基复合物发射。初步结果是一致的两种类型的激基复合物的显着不同的溶剂重组能，表明其结构的主要差异。在这项研究中，学生学习如何合成，纯化和光谱表征化合物。学生还接受一系列不太传统的技术培训，包括瞬态吸收光谱（TCSPC），荧光测定法，电化学和现代计算化学。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的知识价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

With this award, the Chemical Structure, Dynamics, and Mechanism B program supports the research of Professor Joseph P. Dinnocenzo at the University of Rochester. Professor Dinnocenzo and his students investigate novel exciplexes (excited state complexes), especially cationic (positively charged) exciplexes. The research activities provide foundational knowledge about electron transfer and new types of exciplexes. Substances which form exciplexes have potential applications as sensors, as biological probes, and in organic light emitting diodes (OLED). Due to their solubility in water, cationic exciplexes have enhanced potential for development of biological imaging applications. The research provides a rich educational experience for undergraduate, graduate, and postdoctoral students, in synthesis, electrochemistry and time-resolved spectroscopy. This research specifically engages undergraduates from the University of Guam (a minority institution in the US Territory) for summer research opportunities. This group is underrepresented in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM).This project investigates two types of novel, charge transfer exciplex intermediates that were recently discovered in the Dinnocenzo laboratory. One type of exciplex is formed by reaction of cationic, excited state acceptors with neutral donors. Research objectives include determining the electronic nature of the exciplexes (e.g. electronic coupling matrix elements) through theoretical fitting of radiative lifetimes, which are determined by Time Correlated Single Photon Counting (TCSPC) and fluorescence spectra. This project expands the generality of cationic exciplexes by measuring some of their photophysical properties, examining cationic exciplexes in a variety of media (including water), and synthesizing intramolecular examples. A related project investigates examples uncovered in the Professor Dinnocenzo's lab where two exciplex emissions are observed from a single acceptor and donor. Preliminary results are consistent with dramatically different solvent reorganization energies for the two types of exciplexes, indicating major differences in their structures. In this research, students learn how to synthesize, purify, and spectroscopically characterize compounds. Students also receive training in a range of less traditional techniques including transient absorption spectroscopy (TCSPC), fluorometry, electrochemistry, and modern computational chemistry. The students trained through the research are prepared to tackle a variety of multidisciplinary problems in their professional careers.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.