Solution-and Solid-State Photoelectrochromic Switching in Organized Assemblies

摘要

The goal of the project is to prepare, characterize, and study organized, denselypacked, highly oriented monolayer structures of redox and photoactive adsorbate molecules (azobenzenes and ferrocenylazobenzenes) on a variety of conducting substrates. These types of molecular assemblies are relevant to the development of new forms of ultrahigh density optical data storage media, chemical sensors, optical switches, and photon counters. An understanding of the chemical and physical processes that can occur within such assemblies is critical to the development of such high performance optical materials. The specific aim of the project is to examine the role of film structure on ion transport, electron transfer, and photochemical reactions that occur in self assembled monolayer films (SAMs). Two of the primary tools used for film characterization are state of the art 'molecular resolution' atomic force microscopy and synchrotron x-ray methods (diffraction and standing wave).