The Macromolecular, Supramolecular, and Nanochemistry Program supports Professor David A. Vanden Bout of the University of Texas at Austin to develop strategies to study the fundamental nature of energy transport in supramolecular and macromolecular organic systems such as tubular molecular aggregates, single conjugated polymers, and polymer aggregates. The research program investigates the properties of these materials for energy transport applications by combining a number of super-resolution imaging techniques. A goal is to directly probe energy transport in individual nanoscale systems, coupling both temperature and electric field dependence measurements to examine how disorder and electronic coupling affect energy migration. By studying both polymer systems as well as self-assembled supramolecular systems, the results will help to separate the effects of intra- and intermolecular interactions in energy transfer events.
By studying how energy can be collected and moved in organic materials, this research will help to formulate new materials for light harvesting and solar energy. The research will use methods that directly probe the migration of energy in individual systems to overcome the inherent complexities of the bulk materials. The research project will also seek to increase the number and diversity of students pursuing chemical research via the inclusion of undergraduate students in the research program.
