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Content archived on 2024-05-14

Towards synthetic molecular muscle

Objective



Research objectives and content
The aim of the project is the synthesis of molecules and molecular assemblies which can act as muscles, i.e. respond to an external stimulus by contracting (shrinking of the system) or extension (relaxation of the system).
A 'molecular muscle' can be considered as a molecular machine, able to function under the action of a redox signal,ligth.etc.
The very different stereoelectronic requirements of Cu (I) (tetrahedral, 4-coordinate) and Cu (II) (square pyramidal, 5-coordinate) allow to induce molecular motions. A ring can be translated on a string on whih it is threaded. The same can be made with two rings: A possible building bloch to perform this studies is based on (FORMULA)
Cu (I) will prefer to be 4-coordinate and Cu (II) will favour 5-coordinate situations. If the system can indeed dimerize (and tread), a bis-copper complex will be formed. If the system bears Cu (I), it presents the contracted situation, but if the copper is copper (II), then, the stretched situation should be obtained. The redox process between the specie with copper (I) and those with copper (II) corresponds to a strectching-contracting reaction. It should lead to a molecular motion, very similar to the functionning of a muscle, at the molecular level. Electromechanical devices can be envisaged, which should work on the same principle.
Training content (objective, benefit and expected impact)
The applicant expects to get introduced in the yield of supramolecular photochemistry and to acquire new knowledge on two aspects: the new processes that can take place and the potential applications of the resulting new materials in connection with their unique properties Links with industry / industrial relevance (22)

Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)

Programme(s)

Topic(s)

Call for proposal

Data not available

Funding Scheme

RGI - Research grants (individual fellowships)

Coordinator

Centre National de la Recherche Scientifique
EU contribution
No data
Address
4,Rue Blaise Pascal
67000 Strasbourg
France
Total cost
No data

Participants (1)