Objective Infinite one-dimensional structures with a metallic main chain of short metal-metal contacts have attracted considerable attention in the field of materials science for many decades due to their excellent optical properties and remarkable dichroism and electrical (semi)conductivity. These materials suffer, however, from decomposition prior to melting and low solubility and processability. The strategy of introducing alkyl side chains of different nature in the past two decades proved to be particularly successful towards better soluble materials or gels with implications in optoelectronics. However, this comes at the price of reduced bulk conductivities leading in some cases to electrical insulators due to the perturbation of the metal-metal contacts.In this proposal, a Systems Chemistry approach will be introduced to create unprecedented supramolecular copolymers that are anticipated to exhibit: a) high solubility, reversibility and stability in organic solvents and water and, b) short metal contacts involving either positively and negatively charged metal ions of the same nature (Pt2+/Pt2-) or dissimilar metal centres (Pd(II)/Pt(II) and Ag(I)/Au(I)) with equivalent coordination geometry. To achieve this goal, ligands with an extended aromatic surface for pi-stacking supported by complementary non-covalent interactions have been selected to bring suitable metal ions in close proximity. This can be summarized in three approaches. 1) Optimization of the geometrical complementarity between the interacting ligands; 2) Introduction of hydrogen bonding and electrostatic complementarity between side groups, and 3) Exploiting weak interactions between geometrically equivalent electron rich and electron poor units. The extent of metal-metal interactions can be ultimately controlled by introducing suitable light switchable groups. This concept is expected to provide access to novel, highly-ordered materials with rich photophysical and semiconductive properties. Fields of science natural sciencesphysical scienceselectromagnetism and electronicsoptoelectronicsnatural sciencesmathematicspure mathematicsgeometry Programme(s) H2020-EU.1.1. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - European Research Council (ERC) Main Programme Topic(s) ERC-2016-STG - ERC Starting Grant Call for proposal ERC-2016-STG See other projects for this call Funding Scheme ERC-STG - Starting Grant Host institution UNIVERSITAET MUENSTER Net EU contribution € 1 493 750,00 Address SCHLOSSPLATZ 2 48149 MUENSTER Germany See on map Region Nordrhein-Westfalen Münster Münster, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 493 750,00 Beneficiaries (1) Sort alphabetically Sort by Net EU contribution Expand all Collapse all UNIVERSITAET MUENSTER Germany Net EU contribution € 1 493 750,00 Address SCHLOSSPLATZ 2 48149 MUENSTER See on map Region Nordrhein-Westfalen Münster Münster, Kreisfreie Stadt Activity type Higher or Secondary Education Establishments Links Contact the organisation Opens in new window Website Opens in new window Participation in EU R&I programmes Opens in new window HORIZON collaboration network Opens in new window Total cost € 1 493 750,00