Light-assisted functionalization and assembly of zeolite L based hybrid materials

• Applicants: Professorin Dr. Cornelia Denz; Professor Dr. Armido Studer
• Subject Area: Physical Chemistry of Solids and Surfaces, Material Characterisation ; Experimental Condensed Matter Physics ; Optics, Quantum Optics and Physics of Atoms, Molecules and Plasmas ; Organic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: from 2017 to 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 375753572

Nanostructured porous microparticles such as zeolite L crystals are particularly interesting for assembly of nano- and microsystems to larger functional entities due to their hierarchical supramolecular organization of various guest molecules. A prerequisite for an efficient design of larger functional systems is the complete control over the assembly process. It is achieved by a versatile combination of selective chemical modification of the zeolite L surface and subsequent optomechanically-assisted linkage of individual single crystals into larger entities. As a visionary goal, we aim to integrate these building blocks into a larger fully functional photonics toolbox, thereby paving the way to a general light-assisted assembly strategy for soft and bio matter entities.Following the successful path of the previous project periods of former TRR 61, in which we combined chemical surface modification and postmodifiable polymer brush structures with zeolite L assembly by holographic optical tweezers, we will implement a paradigm shift in assembly in this project: Light will act as an integral assembly tool. It will not only be a means for optomechanical structuring, it will also be employed for photochemical bonding. In the upcoming project, we will be able to derive novel polymer hybrid (organic, inorganic, metal) assemblies. Light will be the target functionality, leading to applications in sensing, information processing and biomedical photonics. On the one hand, we will use the established Norrish-Type-I chemistry to functionalize zeolite L crystals with metal nanoparticles by site-selective generation of radical species that will reduce respective metal salts. Additionally, the same photochemistry can be applied for photo-induced release of surface-bound cargos. We will study novel approaches for surface modification and crystal assembly by a visible light induced dynamic diselenide exchange reaction. We will extend our binding strategies to the immobilization of DNA strands. If complementary strands are attached to different zeolites, DNA hybridization allows for a new biohybrid technique of assembling.On the other hand, we will use novel optical manipulation and trapping techniques to design sophisticated assemblies of functionalized (loaded) zeolite L nanocontainers exploiting the features of the load itself or structured surface attachments. Optical manipulation will be extended from spatially resolved three-dimensional holographic optical tweezers including full control of amplitude and phase to non-isotropic traps supplemented by complex polarization light fields. Finally, functional optical systems will be realized including loaded zeolite L as optical sensors, chains of zeolite L to create flexible and reconfigurable wave guides, and polarization-sensitive arrays of metallo-organic complexes to induce efficient multidimensional plasmonic wave fields.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants