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Details of Grant 

EPSRC Reference: GR/M07434/01
Title: SELF-ASSEMBLED MONOLAYER OPTICAL SWITCHES
Principal Investigator: Cook, Professor MJ
Other Investigators:
Russell, Professor D
Researcher Co-Investigators:
Project Partners:
Department: Chemistry
Organisation: University of East Anglia
Scheme: Standard Research (Pre-FEC)
Starts: 01 May 1998 Ends: 31 January 2002 Value (£): 149,184
EPSRC Research Topic Classifications:
Materials Synthesis & Growth
EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications:
No relevance to Underpinning Sectors
Related Grants:
Panel History:  
Summary on Grant Application Form
The proposal develops new technological aspects of self-assembled monolayer films constructed on a solid substrate surface. The substrate will be used as an optical waveguide and an especially novel feature of the work will be the use of the evanescent wave emanating from the substrate surface to photostimulate a cascade of molecular events within and at the SAM surface, the SAM containing photon driven molecular switches. The photoswitches will be based on the cis-trans photoisomerisation of stilbazole and pyridinoazoarene derivatives. The trans isomer will constitute the on state, presenting a series of pyridyl nitrogen atom co-ordination sites at the SAM surface. The co-ordinating activity of the surface will be switched off through the evanescent wave induced using light of ca. 360 nm which will photoisomerise the trans isomer into the non co-ordinating ( off state) cis-isomer. The surface will be switched back on with longer wavelength light (ca. >400 nm). The potential of the surface in the on position to co-ordinate acceptor molecules by N:Zn macrocycles co-ordination or by H-bonding will be examined. The principle will be developed to include cation recognition processes.
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Organisation Website: http://www.uea.ac.uk