By taking advantage of the broad photochemistry of metal-coordination complexes, we have created metallo-supramolecular materials with tunable response to light. For example, materials created from a hydrophobic polymeric backbone linked by coordination to Cr(III) ions through a pyridine-modified termini showed reversible changes in mechanical stiffness with light irradiation. We have shown that by changing the metal-ligand moiety, to one with different photochemistry and photophysical properties (like Fe(III) coordinated to carboxylate groups), we can create materials with other specific mechanical properties that can be controlled with light irradiation.  In addition, we have shown that the excited state lifetime of the metal-coordination interactions was influenced by the local mechanical properties of the metal-coordination interactions, and can also be used a sensor for the local stiffness in the material. Such studies provide important structure-function relationships that show how metal-coordination interactions can be exploited to create advanced materials with properties beyond the limit of traditional polymeric materials. <br/>

Tuning photochemistry and photophysics in metallo-supramolecular materials

254th National Meeting (2017)

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