Grant: Discovery Grants Program - Individual

The chemists of the 21st century can manipulate atoms and molecules in a way that past generations could not even dream about. Today we can construct devices for the processing (reading and writing) of information at the molecular level. Like their macroscopic counterparts, molecular-level devices need energy to operate, and signals to communicate with the operator. Light is the most inexpensive, abundant and attractive tool to read and write information, allowing us to do this locally or remotely, noninvasively and with affordable experimental setups. However, diffraction prevents the focusing of light within ultra-small volumes and, as a result, the fabrication of features with molecular precision using conventional illumination techniques. Our ultimate goal is to overcome the diffraction barrier and to manipulate light in the subdiffraction regime, by engineering together organic molecules and metal nanoparticles such that their properties can be used cooperatively. These ingenious strategies offer the opportunity to confine chemical reactions within nanoscaled volumes and to fabricate features with unprecedented resolution, in a sustainable fashion. Combining classic organic chemistry with new, exciting, plasmonic technology has the potential to bypass the limitations of diffraction and permit the convenient fabrication of miniaturized objects for the communications and computer industries, in a world that uses nanotechnology to invent high performance, energy efficient, and recyclable materials. The main objective of this research plan is the preparation of organic substrates for plasmonic activation by metal nanoparticles for fluorescence patterning at the nanoscale. Initial work will focus on (1) the synthetic potential for plasmon-mediated chemical reactions driven by light excitation of nanoparticles, which will be exploited to convert fluorogenic organic substrates into emissive products. Toward the realization of the main objective, metal nanostructures will also be exploited in (2) plasmonic multiphoton photochemical processes. In addition to implementing new protocols in nanotechnology, this research line will lead to the development and the understanding of innovative systems with the capability of performing complex and serial functions. Combining multiple discrete components into a single multifunctional nanomaterial would be useful in a variety of applications, particularly in cascade-like reactions; the exploration of the combinatorial properties of metal nanostructures will offer exciting opportunities for high-impact discoveries in materials design. Through innovative and challenging research, HQP will acquire diverse technical and interpersonal skill sets that will prepare them to pursue careers in academia, industry or public service, and to make significant contributions to the future of Canadian science and innovation.