Project description
Controlling chemical reactions with laser light
Using the tools of physics to control chemical reactions at a molecular level is one of the most compelling quests of chemists. The EU-funded LFC-MORE project plans to demonstrate experimental control over a chemical reaction using photon catalysis. This relatively new technique uses a high-power pulsed laser that generates a high electric field that interacts with the dipole it induces in a molecule. This so-called dynamic Stark effect allows scientists to alter the energy levels and potential energy surfaces of the molecule under study and thereby control the chemistry in the system. With proof of principle at hand experimenting with a small molecule, the project will use the technique to control conical intersections in large biochemical molecules and create light-activated molecular switches.
Objective
It is a long-held dream of physical chemists to not only study, but also fully control chemical reactions. The research aim of this project is to control such reactions using the photon catalysis method. This technique uses a focused, high-power, non-resonant pulsed laser to create a high electric field. This field can interact with the dipole it induces in a molecule. With this so-called dynamic Stark effect, we can alter energy levels and potential energy surfaces of the molecule under study and thereby control the chemistry in the system.
Our first goal is to apply this relatively new and state-of-the-art technique to control the chemistry in a small benchmark molecule. This will serve as a proof-of-principle experiment and give us a better understanding of the technique and the molecular mechanisms it affects. Afterwards, our aim is to control conical intersections in relatively large biochemically relevant molecules and to create light-field assisted molecular switches.
The experiments will be conducted in a molecular-beam machine. Three lasers will interact with the molecules. The first one will provide the high electric field to control the chemistry, the second laser will excite the molecules and thereby start the chemical reaction, and the third one will ionize the reaction products. The resulting ions and electrons will be recorded using the velocity map imaging technique. We will use state-of-the-art combinations of detection methods to elucidate the controlled chemical reactions in a very high level of detail.
The photon catalysis method has the potential to become a relatively easy to implement and general technique that could advance many experiments from the level of understanding to the level of controlling molecular processes. It allows us to manipulate properties of matter at the molecular level and it could become an important tool in the fields of quantum information, molecular nanotechnology, and photopharmacology, for instance.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
- engineering and technology nanotechnology
- natural sciences chemical sciences catalysis
- natural sciences physical sciences optics laser physics pulsed lasers
- natural sciences physical sciences theoretical physics particle physics photons
You need to log in or register to use this function
We are sorry... an unexpected error occurred during execution.
You need to be authenticated. Your session might have expired.
Thank you for your feedback. You will soon receive an email to confirm the submission. If you have selected to be notified about the reporting status, you will also be contacted when the reporting status will change.
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
H2020-EU.1.3. - EXCELLENT SCIENCE - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Actions
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme -
H2020-EU.1.3.2. - Nurturing excellence by means of cross-border and cross-sector mobility
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
MSCA-IF - Marie Skłodowska-Curie Individual Fellowships (IF)
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) H2020-MSCA-IF-2019
See all projects funded under this callCoordinator
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
6525 XZ Nijmegen
Netherlands
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.