Project Details
Projekt
P2: Towards Piezochromism in d8-Configured Complexes with (Quasi-)Square-Planar Coordination Environments
Applicant
Professor Dr. Cristian Strassert
Subject Area
Inorganic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
Physical Chemistry of Molecules, Liquids and Interfaces, Biophysical Chemistry
Physical Chemistry of Molecules, Liquids and Interfaces, Biophysical Chemistry
Term
since 2025
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 535200000
In this project, we will control the optical properties of d 8-configured metal complexes by application of directional shear forces, electric or magnetic fields as well as by changes in isotropic temperature or hydrostatic pressure. In this sense, molecular stacking of planar compounds will lead to plate-like crystals with a distinct direction of metal-metal interaction (i.e., with their flat side perpendicular to the z-axis along which the metal centres interact), which in turn responds anisotropically to external stimuli (i.e., by contraction along the metal-metal z-axis, even if a hydrostatic pressure is isotropically varied). As this preferential z-direction is perpendicular to the flat surface area in the resulting plate-like crystals, the resulting solids could be conveniently deposited (or grown) onto sample holders for NMR spectroscopy or between electrically charged plates to exploit the effect of external fields on the photophysical properties. In general, while magnetic fields could cause a Zeeman-splitting of triplet sub-states (while potentially also affecting the CPL properties), and electric fields could introduce an interesting Stark-effect, mechanical perturbations or electric fields could also lead to piezochromism. For this purpose, the growth of statistical co-crystals facilitating hetero-metal-metal interactions will be tackled. In this context, also the use of chiral complexes (as well as ionic coordination compounds bearing mutually attracting charges) will be explored. Besides solids, solutions, glassy and polymeric matrices, liquid crystals and MOFs will be also investigated for comparison. In the future, the fundamental understanding concerning (supra-)molecular responses towards external stimuli in different microenvironments could lead to sensors, actuators and optoelectronic devices that integrate multiple inputs while rendering variable optical readouts.
DFG Programme
Research Units
