Metal-Based Molecular Materials: From Electronic Structure to Functionality. This project aims to develop and explore new metal-based molecular materials, focusing on molecules that can act as magnets or be switched between multiple states by heating/cooling. This project expects to deliver an improved understanding of how the molecular electronic structure engenders desired physical properties in the target species. This insight will allow development of design principles for robust systems for ....Metal-Based Molecular Materials: From Electronic Structure to Functionality. This project aims to develop and explore new metal-based molecular materials, focusing on molecules that can act as magnets or be switched between multiple states by heating/cooling. This project expects to deliver an improved understanding of how the molecular electronic structure engenders desired physical properties in the target species. This insight will allow development of design principles for robust systems for nanodevices or advanced materials. As well as achieving important advances in fundamental chemistry, this project is anticipated to help lay the foundations for development of novel materials for high density data storage, quantum computing, molecular electronics/spintronics, optical displays or temperature/solvent sensors.Read moreRead less
Molecular Spin Switching with Earth Abundant Metals. This project aims to develop molecular materials based on non-precious metals that respond to stimuli, including heat or light, by switching between forms with different properties, such as colour and electrical conductivity. The project expects to deliver enhanced control over the switching characteristics and incorporation of the materials into responsive thin films, ready for integration into devices. These molecular switches are promising ....Molecular Spin Switching with Earth Abundant Metals. This project aims to develop molecular materials based on non-precious metals that respond to stimuli, including heat or light, by switching between forms with different properties, such as colour and electrical conductivity. The project expects to deliver enhanced control over the switching characteristics and incorporation of the materials into responsive thin films, ready for integration into devices. These molecular switches are promising for molecular electronics, spintronics and colour-based sensing and display devices. Their fast response time and small component size imply less heat to dissipate and therefore less electricity required for cooling upon implementation in information communications and other technologies.Read moreRead less
Emergent Behaviours in Spin Crossover Materials. This project aims to develop new molecular materials in which the incorporation of electronic switching leads to the emergence of fundamentally new chemical and physical phenomena. Through an innovative interdisciplinary approach that targets interesting new forms of interplay at the nanoscale this project expects to generate step-change advances in the understanding of spin-switching materials. Significant anticipated outcomes and benefits includ ....Emergent Behaviours in Spin Crossover Materials. This project aims to develop new molecular materials in which the incorporation of electronic switching leads to the emergence of fundamentally new chemical and physical phenomena. Through an innovative interdisciplinary approach that targets interesting new forms of interplay at the nanoscale this project expects to generate step-change advances in the understanding of spin-switching materials. Significant anticipated outcomes and benefits include identification and development of several new classes of materials function, each of major fundamental interest, and to the generation of advanced new materials worthy of commercial development in electronic device, actuator, sensor and gas separations technologies.Read moreRead less
Boryl Pincers and Beyond: Taming Borometallic Chemistry. Industrial applications of coordination complexes in catalysis reduce energy input and environmental impact but almost exclusively involve classical donors such as nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur and phosphorus. Boron, whilst prevalent and environmentally benign, is under-utilised in such applications, in part due to the high reactivity of the metal boron bond.
This research will seek to tame and then exploit the unique features of boron within p ....Boryl Pincers and Beyond: Taming Borometallic Chemistry. Industrial applications of coordination complexes in catalysis reduce energy input and environmental impact but almost exclusively involve classical donors such as nitrogen, oxygen, sulfur and phosphorus. Boron, whilst prevalent and environmentally benign, is under-utilised in such applications, in part due to the high reactivity of the metal boron bond.
This research will seek to tame and then exploit the unique features of boron within pincer ligand frameworks in metal coordination complexes, with particular attention focusing on, but not limited to catalytic alkyne metathesis.Read moreRead less
Synthesis, Synergy and Sustainability: Development of active-metal reagents. The design and realisation of new and important molecules requires innovative and efficient methods. This project will create a new store of active-metal molecular tools for the selective, catalytic and atom efficient construction of a diverse library of phosphorus heterocyclic scaffolds and chemical feedstocks relevant to biological, medicinal, and materials chemistry, and the fine chemical industry. Parallel studies e ....Synthesis, Synergy and Sustainability: Development of active-metal reagents. The design and realisation of new and important molecules requires innovative and efficient methods. This project will create a new store of active-metal molecular tools for the selective, catalytic and atom efficient construction of a diverse library of phosphorus heterocyclic scaffolds and chemical feedstocks relevant to biological, medicinal, and materials chemistry, and the fine chemical industry. Parallel studies employing environmentally friendly and benign deep eutectic solvents will allow for replacement of traditional hazardous volatile organic solvents, putting the newly created active-metal reagents at the forefront of the necessary shift towards a more sustainable and 'green' polar organometallic chemistry. Read moreRead less
Magnesium(I) complexes: Potent workhorse reagents. This project aims to install magnesium(I) compounds as powerful and selective reagents to prepare metal-metal bonded compound classes that are otherwise inaccessible. These environmentally benign species will be viable alternatives to established systems, incorporating expensive and toxic metals, which are currently used for the stoichiometric/catalytic transformation of small molecules to value added products. The project is expected to cement ....Magnesium(I) complexes: Potent workhorse reagents. This project aims to install magnesium(I) compounds as powerful and selective reagents to prepare metal-metal bonded compound classes that are otherwise inaccessible. These environmentally benign species will be viable alternatives to established systems, incorporating expensive and toxic metals, which are currently used for the stoichiometric/catalytic transformation of small molecules to value added products. The project is expected to cement Australia's internationally leading role in the emerging field of low oxidation state s-block chemistry. The development and commercialisation of magnesium(I), and related compounds as reagents for the selective synthesis of value added products will provide significant economic benefits to fine chemicals industries.Read moreRead less
Discovery Early Career Researcher Award - Grant ID: DE210101168
Funder
Australian Research Council
Funding Amount
$430,000.00
Summary
Shining a light on the mechanism of photochemical hydrogen production. This project aims to improve the performance and longevity of molecular photocatalysts to produce hydrogen from water and visible light. Sustainable alternatives to fossils fuels, such as hydrogen, are critical to minimising the effects of climate change. This project expects to use innovative experimental techniques to reveal the causes of degradation in key intermediates of the photocatalytic reaction. Understanding these d ....Shining a light on the mechanism of photochemical hydrogen production. This project aims to improve the performance and longevity of molecular photocatalysts to produce hydrogen from water and visible light. Sustainable alternatives to fossils fuels, such as hydrogen, are critical to minimising the effects of climate change. This project expects to use innovative experimental techniques to reveal the causes of degradation in key intermediates of the photocatalytic reaction. Understanding these detrimental pathways can then direct the design of new catalysts with enhanced stability and activity. The fundamental chemistry explored in this project should advance breakthroughs in artificial photosynthesis and provide cleaner methods of hydrogen production under mild conditions, using earth-abundant catalysts.Read moreRead less
Unlocking the potential of multiphoton photoredox catalysis. Photoredox catalysis promises sustainable alternatives to synthesise high-value chemicals using energy converted from visible light. The project aims to address the current lack of understanding about how these reactions operate at the molecular level, using innovative electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques. The expected outcomes include new catalytic systems containing multiple light-driven steps that provide reactivities beyond ....Unlocking the potential of multiphoton photoredox catalysis. Photoredox catalysis promises sustainable alternatives to synthesise high-value chemicals using energy converted from visible light. The project aims to address the current lack of understanding about how these reactions operate at the molecular level, using innovative electrochemical and spectroscopic techniques. The expected outcomes include new catalytic systems containing multiple light-driven steps that provide reactivities beyond those attainable in single-photon cycles. These will be applied to challenging modifications of large biomolecules under mild aqueous conditions. Anticipated benefits include adding value to Australia’s growing chemical industry through efficient green syntheses with reduced dependence on toxic solvents.Read moreRead less
Discovering New Chemistry and Potential Applications of Metal Tetrapyrroles. This project aims to make fundamental advances in inorganic chemistry, coordination chemistry and bioinorganic chemistry by preparing new metal-containing molecules based on specifically designed tetrapyrrole ligands. Innovative synthetic methods will be developed to enable systematic chemical modifications to explore the chemical and biological properties of the metal complexes. The potential of the new molecules to be ....Discovering New Chemistry and Potential Applications of Metal Tetrapyrroles. This project aims to make fundamental advances in inorganic chemistry, coordination chemistry and bioinorganic chemistry by preparing new metal-containing molecules based on specifically designed tetrapyrrole ligands. Innovative synthetic methods will be developed to enable systematic chemical modifications to explore the chemical and biological properties of the metal complexes. The potential of the new molecules to be of use as tracers for molecular imaging will be investigated. An expected outcome of this research will be an increased understanding of how chemical properties dictate the biological activity of metal complexes informing the potential long-term translation of this chemistry to to new molecular diagnostics and therapeutics.Read moreRead less
Earth Abundant Metal Complexes for Nitrogen Activation. This project aims to develop a range of complexes based around earth abundant metals that are capable of activating nitrogen (N2) at ambient pressure and temperature. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of organometallic chemistry, specifically with regards to molecular metal-metal bonding and subsequent reactivity towards the activation of nitrogen. The activation of atmospheric nitrogen is performed on a multi-millio ....Earth Abundant Metal Complexes for Nitrogen Activation. This project aims to develop a range of complexes based around earth abundant metals that are capable of activating nitrogen (N2) at ambient pressure and temperature. The project expects to generate new knowledge in the area of organometallic chemistry, specifically with regards to molecular metal-metal bonding and subsequent reactivity towards the activation of nitrogen. The activation of atmospheric nitrogen is performed on a multi-million tonne scale each year and is key to a number of industrial processes. As such, investigations into new and improved catalysts for this process would potentially bring huge financial benefits to industry, as well as benefiting the environment by reducing energy demand and associated climate change.Read moreRead less