Research
What design strategies can we use to impart stability, unusual reactivity, and/or targeted responses in molecular crystals?
Crystal structures contain a wealth of information that can reveal unique insights into the behavior and applications of crystalline materials. By understanding these structures, we can tailor their performance in various applications, such as stimuli-responsive materials, energy conversion, and sensing technologies. Our research aims to utilize these structure-property relationships to develop innovative crystalline materials.
Crystal structures contain a wealth of information that can reveal unique insights into the behavior and applications of crystalline materials. By understanding these structures, we can tailor their performance in various applications, such as stimuli-responsive materials, energy conversion, and sensing technologies. Our research aims to utilize these structure-property relationships to develop innovative crystalline materials.
Light responsive materials: Light-responsive materials have gained significant attention in materials science because of their dynamic behavior when exposed to light. They're useful for a wide range of applications, including energy storage, biomaterials, sensing, and actuation. Recent research has focused on tailoring the actuating properties of functional molecular crystals to regulate dynamic properties, including the Photosalient Effect (PSE). The PSE results from sudden and rapid observable actuation of crystalline materials in response to light.
The intensity of the PSE is directly linked to changes in the material's structure during the photochemical reaction. However, it's tough to get a clear picture of these transformations because the material often breaks apart and loses its crystalline structure when the PSE happens. We want to gain a better understand of the structural transformations that regulate the PSE, such that we can systematically maximize and/or minimize material disintegration during these processes.
Recent publications:
The intensity of the PSE is directly linked to changes in the material's structure during the photochemical reaction. However, it's tough to get a clear picture of these transformations because the material often breaks apart and loses its crystalline structure when the PSE happens. We want to gain a better understand of the structural transformations that regulate the PSE, such that we can systematically maximize and/or minimize material disintegration during these processes.
Recent publications:
- Pham-Tran, V. N. P., Moffat, J. G. D., Marczenko, K. M.* "Polymorph Driven Diversification of Photosalient Responses in a Zinc(II) Coordination Complex," 2024, Chem. Comm. In Press, doi.org/10.1039/D4CC01593B.
- Moffat, J. G. D., Pham-Tran, V. N. P., Marczenko, K. M.* "A Practical Synthesis and X-Ray Crystal Structure of (E)-4-(1-naphthylvinyl)pyridine and Related Compounds" 2024, Can. J. Chem. In Press, doi: 10.26434/chemrxiv-2024-21063.
Energetic materials: Energetic materials have been essential in many fields, from military to civilian uses, for centuries. However, traditional energetic materials like lead azide come with significant environmental and safety issues due to their heavy-metal content. To advance in this area, we need to find alternatives that are environmentally friendly, solid-form materials, offering the best mix of high performance and low sensitivity.
To do this, we need a deep understanding of how a material's structure influences its properties, particularly how it affects the initiation of an explosive reaction. Our plan is to develop new energetic co-crystals that can be triggered by light, leading to a new class of materials we call Photoresponsive Energetic Materials (PEMs), that can provide safer and more efficient options.
To do this, we need a deep understanding of how a material's structure influences its properties, particularly how it affects the initiation of an explosive reaction. Our plan is to develop new energetic co-crystals that can be triggered by light, leading to a new class of materials we call Photoresponsive Energetic Materials (PEMs), that can provide safer and more efficient options.