Functional Chromophores Group

Our research is currently focused on molecules whose electronic structures impart particular properties, which can be exploited in advanced applications including cancer photodynamic therapy (PDT) and sensing of environmental contaminants. We are also working on other applications where nanomolecular structure and supramolecular nanoarchitecture strongly affect the self-assembly, photocatalytic or electronic properties of the materials. These include polarized fluorescence emission from 2D molecular assemblies, selective analyte sensing by spontaneous assembly of sensor elements, and quantized emission for optical information processing.

A chromophore engineering approach has been adopted to control optical properties of pyrazinacenes for bioimaging and PDT. For example, molecules that absorb light in the near-infrared (NIR) region leading to formation of triplet excited states can be used to generate reactive singlet oxygen, which can be directed for anticancer or antimicrobial applications. Also, molecular self-assembly as crystals or at an interface has been used to obtain materials for sensing or to establish supramolecular control for functional nanostructures.