With funding from the Organic Dynamics Program this project by Professors Gust and Moore of Arizona State University will design, synthesize, and study multicomponent supramolecular species that are molecular triads and pentads consisting of porphyrins, quinones, and carotenoids which perform as light activated switches, OR gates, or NAND gates and other logic elements. Mimicry of biological membranes using fullerenes covalently bonded to carotenoid polyenes and incorporated into liposomes will also be explored. Various structural permutations and combinations of porphyrins, fullerenes, quinones, and carotenoids into supramolecular structures will be studied. This investigation will build complex molecular structures from molecules similar to chlorophyll and beta carotene found in plants to create light harvesting materials with unique properties. Applications of these supramolecular compounds to the transport of energy and in mimicking transistors will be studied.
