CAS: Near-IR Absorbing Intramolecular Charge Transfer Complexes: Syntheses, Symmetry-Breaking Charge Transfer, and Charge Transfer Reversal by External Stimuli

在这个由化学部化学结构、动态和机制B项目资助的项目中，该大学化学系的Francis D 'Souza教授正在开发能够吸收近红外区域光的新型电荷转移配合物。这项研究可能会导致具有新型光电特性的材料，这是高效太阳能收集设备和发光传感器所需要的。该项目处于有机化学、物理化学和材料化学的交叉点，非常适合本科和研究生阶段的科学家教育。该项目为研究生和本科生提供了广泛的教学和培训。通过参与该项目学到的技术知识、解决问题的能力和沟通技巧有助于加强国家的高科技劳动力队伍，同时有助于提高清洁能源技术的能源效率。外展工作有助于建立一个高度多元化的研究小组，并与榆树福克教育中心合作，加强普通科学教育也是项目的一部分。Francis D 'Souza教授的小组将解决几个科学挑战。首先，利用高相互作用的强电子供体和强电子受体对，分子内电荷转移配合物的吸收能否扩展到近红外区域及更远的区域？其次，纳米碳材料如富勒烯、内嵌富勒烯和单壁碳纳米管能否在这些分子内电荷转移配合物中增强近红外吸收和发射？第三，附加的光敏剂是否能够在光激发时触发高效的超快电荷分离，从而导致电荷分离状态？在多模对称分子内电荷转移配合物中是否观察到新的光化学事件，如对称破缺电荷转移？最后，能否利用外部刺激来调节分子内电荷转移复合物中的基态和激发态电荷转移？该奖项反映了美国国家科学基金会的法定使命，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。

In this project, funded by the Chemical Structure, Dynamic & Mechanism B Program of the Chemistry Division, Professor Francis D’Souza of the Department of Chemistry at the University is developing new classes of charge transfer complexes able to absorb light in the near-infrared region. The research could lead to materials with novel optoelectronic properties, which are needed for efficient solar energy harvesting devices and luminescent sensors. The project lies at the interface of organic, physical and materials chemistry, and is well suited to the education of scientists at the undergraduate and graduate levels. The project provides extensive teaching and training of graduate students, and undergraduate students. The technical knowledge, problem-solving abilities, and communication skills learned through participating in the project help to strengthen the nation’s high technology workforce while contributing to the energy efficiency of clean energy technologies. Outreach efforts contribute to a highly diversified research group and collaboration with the Elm Fork Education Center to enhance general science education are also part of the project. Professor Francis D’Souza’s group will address several scientific challenges. First, can the absorption of the intramolecular charge transfer complexes be extended into the near-infrared region and beyond by utilizing highly interacting strong electron donor and strong electron acceptor pairs? Second, can nanocarbon materials such as fullerene, endohedral fullerene and single-wall carbon nanotubes be used to enhance near-infrared absorption and emission in these intramolecular charge transfer complexes? Third, Are the appended photosensitizers capable of triggering efficient ultrafast charge separation upon photoexcitation, thereby leading to charge-separated states? Are novel photochemical events such as symmetry-breaking charge transfer observed in the multi-modular symmetric intramolecular charge transfer complexes? Finally, can external stimulus be used to modulate ground and excited state charge transfer in these intramolecular charge transfer complexes?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.