Emissive Materials from Supramolecular Platforms

我们的研究计划旨在使用相同类型的分子间相互作用制造独特的分子组装体，这些分子间相互作用使生物学能够形成DNA双螺旋，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，方法是利用分子间相互作用形成具有离散、高效和可访问特性的高阶组装体。我们最近已经证明，我们可以嵌入发光铱金属中心到“DNA碱基对”型架构，其中客体分子与其互补物的氢键结合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，我们还可以调整它们的物理和电子物理性质。在我们最近的结果的基础上，我们将开始编译一个免费的小分子库，这将使我们能够探索一系列的颜色，而不改变铱中心本身周围的配体集的结构。我们特别感兴趣的是通过调节配对互补分子来获得用于发光器件的高效真蓝色发射体（在工业上仍然难以实现）。使用这种原型设计，我们还将通过采用双位氢键连接体形成超分子聚合物组装体，形成扩展的高阶结构，配制成纳米颗粒。我们期望增强的发射性能，从这些自我修复的聚集体可比的量子点发射器。自修复特性值得注意，因为它将使我们能够获得用于LED器件制造的新的喷墨沉积协议。使用相关的铱平台，我们还将使用光致发光铱组分作为传感机制组装称为金属有机框架（MOFs）的扩展多孔结晶固体。M0F具有与沸石材料相关的结构，但是具有针对各种用途调节孔的性质的能力。通过将铱材料的发射组分与我们设计的富含质子的共配体相结合，我们将展示通过氢键识别小分子的方式实现离散的烟气传感。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。这些人将从我们的计划中脱颖而出，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.