RUI: Host/Guest Interactions of Thermochromic and Photochromic Molecules in Binary Aqueous Media

在这个项目中，Maria T. Buthelezi和她在惠顿学院的学生在本科院校研究（RUI）活动的支持下，从化学系的化学结构，动力学和机制（CSDM）计划中获得支持，以研究螺吡喃与环糊精和环番包合物的热溶致变色和光致变色。 除了研究该过程的基本科学吸引力之外，螺吡喃（SP，闭环形式）到mercury（MC，开环形式）的光致变色转化可以用于开发开-关光学开关应用和用于光致变色开关、光致变色透镜（验光）、荧光生物标志物、纳米温度计和药物递送装置的材料。 然而，这些光和热相互转换过程是溶剂依赖性和热不稳定的，这已经减缓了使用该系统的应用开发的步伐。 在这个项目中，系统的调查主体化合物的结构和溶剂组合物对螺吡喃/mercury相互转化的影响将使用稳态光谱，纳秒时间分辨光谱，量热法和计算方法进行研究。 这些研究预计将确定主体化合物和溶剂的组合，稳定螺吡喃/mercury系统。 螺吡喃是一种光致变色和热致变色分子。 在可见光下，螺吡喃（SP）溶液是无色的，但当受到紫外光照射时，溶液由于汞（MC）的形成而变成有色的。当MC溶液吸收可见光时，MC转化回SP分子，溶液颜色消失。这种相互转化可以在某些溶剂混合物中加热引发。 像这样的转换可以用于许多重要的应用，例如适应不同光线水平的眼镜和光学数字存储设备。 要在这类应用程序中利用这种特定的转换，需要彻底了解解决方案组件如何影响转换过程。 Buthelezi教授和她的学生将在许多条件下研究这一过程，并使用许多方法来努力发展这种理解。 惠顿学院的本科生将参与该项目的各个方面，从拟议的项目中获得的实践经验将显著影响他们的专业前景，并为他们攻读研究生或健康专业研究以及最终在学术界，政府实验室和工业界就业做好准备。

In this project, Prof. Maria T. Buthelezi and her students at Wheaton College receive support under the auspices of the Research in Undergraduate Institutions (RUI) activity from the Chemical Structure, Dynamics and Mechanism (CSDM) program of the Division of Chemistry to investigate the thermosolvatochromism and photochromism of spiropyran inclusion complexes with cyclodextrins and cyclophanes. In addition to the fundamental scientific appeal of studying this process, photochromic conversion of spiropyran (SP, closed ring form) to merocyanine (MC, open ring form) may be used in the development of on-and-off optical switching applications and materials for photochromic switches, photochromic lenses (optometry), fluorescent biomarkers, nanothermometers, and drug delivery devices. However, these photo- and thermal-interconversion processes are solvent dependent and thermally unstable, which have slowed the pace of application development using this system. In this project, systematic investigation of the impact of host compound structure and solvent composition on spiropyran/merocyanine interconversion will be investigated using steady-state optical spectroscopy, nanosecond time-resolved optical spectroscopy, calorimetry and computational methods. These studies are expected to identify combinations of host compound and solvent that stabilize the spiropyran/merocyanine system. Spiropyran is a photochromic and thermochromic molecule. Under visible light, spiropyran (SP) solutions are colorless, but when subjected to ultraviolet light, the solutions become colored as merocyanine (MC) is formed. When MC solutions absorb visible light, MC is converted back to SP molecule and the solution color disappears. This interconversion can be initiated with heat in some solvent mixtures. Conversions like this can be used in many important applications such as eyeglasses that adapt to varying light levels and optical digital storage devices. Utilizing this specific conversion in these kinds of applications requires a thorough understanding of how the solution components affect the conversion process. Prof. Buthelezi and her students will investigate this process under many conditions and using many methods in an effort to develop that understanding. The undergraduate students at Wheaton College will be involved in all aspects of this project and the hands-on experience gained from the proposed project will impact significantly their professional outlook and prepare them to pursue graduate or health professional studies and for eventual employment in academia, government laboratories, and industry.