Emissive Materials from Supramolecular Platforms

我们的研究项目旨在利用相同类型的分子间相互作用制造独特的分子组装，这种相互作用赋予生物学形成DNA双螺旋的能力，并通过核糖体进行复杂的化学转化，如肽组装。我们的工作与生物学的不同之处在于，我们正在开发具有工业应用的功能材料，通过利用分子间相互作用形成具有离散、高效和可访问性质的高阶组件。我们最近已经证明，我们可以将发光铱金属中心嵌入到“DNA碱基对”类型的结构中，在这种结构中，客体分子与其补体的氢键表现出增强的光致发光行为和颜色变化。通过稍微改变分子对的结构，我们也可以调整它们的物理和光物理性质。******基于我们最近的研究结果，我们将开始编制一个互补小分子库，这将使我们能够在不改变铱中心周围配体结构的情况下探索一系列颜色。我们特别感兴趣的是通过调整配对互补分子来获得用于发光设备的高效真蓝色发射器（在工业上仍然难以实现）。利用这一原型设计，我们还将通过采用双向氢键连接剂形成超分子聚合物组件，形成纳米颗粒，从而形成扩展的高阶结构。我们期望这些自愈聚集体的发射特性可以与量子点发射体相媲美。自我修复特性值得注意，因为它将使我们能够获得用于LED器件制造的新喷墨沉积协议。******使用相关的铱平台，我们还将使用光致发光铱成分作为传感机制组装称为金属有机框架（mof）的扩展多孔晶体固体。mof具有与沸石材料相关的结构，但具有调整孔隙特性以用于各种用途的能力。通过结合铱材料的发射成分和我们设计的富含质子的共配体，我们将展示通过氢键小分子识别的离散烟气传感方式。******最后，该计划将促进我们研究计划中最有价值的元素，即培训熟练和积极的高素质人才。这些人将从我们的项目中脱颖而出，成为加拿大最杰出的科学家，他们的工作将有助于塑造加拿大科学和技术的未来。

Our research program is aimed at making unique molecular assemblies using the same type of intermolecular interactions that give biology its ability to form DNA double helices, and perform complex chemical transformations such as peptide assembly via the ribosome. What differentiates our work from biology is that we are developing functional materials with industrial applications by employing intermolecular interactions to form higher-order assemblies with discrete, efficient and accessible properties. We have recently demonstrated that we can embed a luminescent iridium metal center into a “DNA base-pair” type architecture, where hydrogen bonding of a guest molecule to its complement exhibits enhanced photoluminescent behavior and colour change. By slightly modifying the structures of the molecular pair, we can also tune their physical and photophysical properties.******Building on our most recent results, we will begin compiling a library of complimentary small molecules that will allow us to explore a range of colours without changing the structure of the ligand set surrounding iridium center itself. We are particularly interested in accessing an efficient true-blue emitter for light-emitting devices (still industrially difficult to achieve), by tuning the pairing compliment molecule. Using this archetypical design, we will also form extended higher-order structures by employing ditopic H-bonded linkers to form supramolecular polymeric assemblies, formulated into nanoparticles. We expect enhanced emission properties from these self-healing aggregates comparable to quantum dots emitters. The self-healing property is noteworthy, as it will allow us to access new inkjet deposition protocols for LED device fabrication.******Using a related iridium platform, we will also assemble extended porous crystalline solids termed metal-organic frameworks (MOFs) using the photoluminescent iridium component as a sensing mechanism. MOFs have structures related to zeolite materials, but with the ability to tune the properties of the pores for a variety of uses. By combining the emissive component of the iridium material and the proton-rich co-ligand we have designed, we will demonstrate discrete flue-gas sensing by way of small molecule recognition through H-bonding.******Finally, the program will facilitate the most valuable element in our research program, which is the training of skilled and motivated Highly Qualified Personnel. These individuals will emerge from our program as some of Canada's most exceptional scientists whose work will help shape the future of Canadian science and technology.