| EPSRC Reference: |
GR/T03345/02 |
| Title: |
Light-Switchable Molecular Devices Based on Metal Chromophores |
| Principal Investigator: |
Weinstein, Professor JA |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Chemistry |
| Organisation: |
University of Sheffield |
| Scheme: |
Advanced Fellowship (Pre-FEC) |
| Starts: |
01 February 2005 |
Ends: |
31 August 2012 |
Value (£): |
239,080
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Chemical Biology |
Chemical Synthetic Methodology |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
| Chemicals |
Healthcare |
| Pharmaceuticals and Biotechnology |
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| Related Grants: |
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| Panel History: |
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
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A photoinduced charge-separated excited state is the key transient in a variety of light energy conversion processes, from photosynthesis to photocatalysis. The issue of vital importance is how to make this excited state longer-lived, by inhibiting various decay processes, so that such excited state has sufficient lifetime to become engaged in a desired chemical event. I address this question in a conceptually new way, by exploring a new type of simple structural reorganisation in the excited state as a tool to stabilize charge separation. I will use an ultrafast formation of a transient sulfur-sulfur three-electron bond, S.. S, on a metal template to achieve the difference in geometry and bonding in the excited state if compared to the ground state, thus providing a tool to control and/or block back electron transfer. [diimine-Metal-thiolate] (M = Pt, Pd) complexes lie at the core of this approach, providing a synthetically feasible and easily modifiable system. These complexes possess a low-energy charge-separated excited state, in which electron transfer from the thiolate moiety to the diimine ligand can lead to the formation of a new S.-. S bond, providing an energetic barrier to back electron transfer and stabilising charge-separation. We will explore and develop this concept by combining of organometallic synthesis, advanced time-resolved spectroscopic techniques and theoretical calculations in an internationally collaborative and interdisciplinary manner. We will explore a combination of the thiolate complexes with S.-. S approach to (i) develop new synthons for supramolecular chemistry; (ii) contribute to the fundamental understanding of radiation damage of DNA; (iii) rationally design new non-linear optical materials via the Structure-Property Relationships; (iv) contribute to understanding of early stage dynamics of biomolecules through development of new highly emissive biomolecular probes in combination with fast time-resolved spetcroscopy. This research, if successful, will open up new exciting avenues in controlling photoreactivity of coordination compounds. Furthermore, the outcome of our fundamental study on transient S-S interaction on a metal template can potentially make a major contribution to unravel the mechanisms by which Nature utilises the presence of two sulfur centres in close proximity to a metal centre in the processes involving electron transfer.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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| Project URL: |
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| Further Information: |
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| Organisation Website: |
http://www.shef.ac.uk |