Photochromic and Spin-Active pi-Functional Materials

点击翻译按钮获取中文摘要

Our research group will address questions at the forefront of the rapidly developing and extremely important field of multifunctional materials for data processing and storage. Recent developments were triggered, in part, by new discoveries made in our laboratory related to the ability to change the magnetic state of organic molecular materials by light radiation, and modulate conductivities and magnetic properties by tuning the structures of pi-conjugated radicals. Our studies of photochromic organic metal complexes as well as our recent experiments with conjugated molecules and polymers (like those used in plastic solar cells and displays) suggest that it is possible to achieve control using light or charge state even under room temperature conditions. This is striking because previous research suggested that optical or charge control in multifunctional materials could only be achieved at very low temperatures. With the knowledge of how to synthesize and characterize our molecular materials, the new experiments will elucidate the structural parameters that dictate optical and charge control. The long term goal is to develop new multifunctional materials and devices for electronics and data storage that require low turn on and operation voltages as part of the global mandate for green information technology (green IT).