Nanocarbon based Supramolecular Assemblies for Electron Transfer Applicable to Solar Energy Harvesting

在这个由北德克萨斯大学化学系大分子、超分子和纳米化学计划资助的项目中，丹顿将对光能收集碳纳米结构的超分子组件进行多学科研究。这项研究主要集中在三个方面：(1)宽带捕获的构建和研究，电荷稳定的‘天线-反应中心’模型，(2)直径分类的碳纳米管组成的供体-受体杂化材料中依赖带隙的光诱导电荷稳定，(3)石墨烯超分子供体-受体纳米杂化材料的开发。更广泛的影响包括培养本科生和研究生，通过出版物和在全国会议上发表报告来传播研究成果，通过建立国内和国际合作来加强研究基础设施。该项目将促进我们对富勒烯、纳米管和石墨烯等全碳纳米材料用于光化学应用的基础知识，并可能在超分子化学、纳米材料、纳米技术和太阳能收集设备领域产生重大影响。

In this project funded by the Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry Program of the Chemistry Division, Francis D'Souza of the University of North Texas, Denton will conduct multidisciplinary research on light energy harvesting supramolecular assemblies of carbon nanostructures. This research is focused on three main topics: (1) construction and study of broad band capturing, charge stabilizing 'antenna-reaction center' models, (2) band gap dependent photoinduced charge stabilization in donor-acceptor hybrids comprised of diameter sorted carbon nanotubes, and (3) development of supramolecular donor-acceptor nanohybrids of graphene.The broader impacts involve training undergraduate and graduate students, disseminating research results through publications and presentations at national conferences, and enhancing research infrastructure through establishing national and international collaborations. The project will advance our fundamental knowledge on utilization of all-carbon based nanomaterials such as fullerene, nanotubes and graphene for photochemical applications and could have significant impacts in the fields of supramolecular chemistry, nanomaterials, nanotechnology and solar energy harvesting devices.