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We were awarded an ACS PRF AC grant to synthesize new large molecular systems that can attach specifically to carbon nanotubes, giving them enhanced functionality.  We have successfully synthesized 3 of the desired supramolecular systems.  One of the novel molecules that was synthesized during this reporting period, was central to a completed study of directed aggregation of single walled carbon nanotubes.  Those results are being submitted to the Journal of Physical Chemistry C.  A third publication “Mechanically docked metallodendrimers about single walled carbon nanotubes” has been published in the Journal of Physical Chemistry (2009).  Our most recent synthetic paper has been published in Polyhedron (2010).  Other of our works supported by this grant have been published in JACS (2010)

Two graduate research students have been partially supported by this grant during this reporting period.  During this reporting period, research that was wholly or partially sponsored by the ACS PRF has been presented at National ACS meetings, MRS meetings and other local and regional scientific conferences.

1. Alston, J. R.**; Poler, J. C. Abstracts, 61st Southeast Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, San Juan, Puerto Rico, October 21-24 "Heteroleptic Ruthenium Dimers for Rigid Scaffold and Photon Enhanced Supramolecular Interactions" 2009, SRM-535. (Oral Presentation)

    

2. Forney, M. W.**; Poler, J. C. Abstracts, 61st Southeast Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, San Juan, Puerto Rico, October 21-24 "Sonochemical Formation of Methyl Hydroperoxide in Polar Aprotic Solvents and Its Effect On SWNT Dispersion Stability" 2009, SRM-539. (Oral Presentation)

    

3. Herring, N. P.**; Poler, J. Abstracts, 61st Southeast Regional Meeting of the American Chemical Society, San Juan, Puerto Rico, October 21-24 "Aggregation of Gold Nanoparticles by Ruthenium Coordination Compounds" 2009, SRM-685. (Oral Presentation)

    

4. Michael W. Forney** and J. C. Poler, “Optical modulation of microcantilevers by charge transfer between Ru coordination complexes and carbon nanotubes”, 10^th Annual Niner Research Across the Disciplines Graduate Research Forum, UNC Charlotte, March 20, 2010 (1^st Place Oral Presentation)

    

5. Jeffrey R. Alston** and J. C. Poler, “Photoactive Supramolecular Scaffolds for Directed Nanoparticle Assembly”, 10^th Annual Niner Research Across the Disciplines Graduate Research Forum, UNC Charlotte, March 20, 2010

    

6. J. Alston**, M. Forney**, N. Herring**, and J. C. Poler Abstracts of Papers, 239th ACS National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, United States, March 21-25, 2010 “Hybrid nanoparticles through site specific non-covalent functionalization” 2010, COLL-333 (Oral Presentation)

    

7. J. Alston**, S. Brooks*, M. Forney**, T. Corry*, N. Herring**, R. Kachlan*, C. Logan*, M. Polanco-Ferreyra*, and J. C. Poler Abstracts of Papers, 239th ACS National Meeting, San Francisco, CA, United States, March 21-25, 2010 “Structural, mechanical and optical characterization of hybrid nanoparticle systems” 2010, COLL-231 (Poster Presentation)

    

8. Michael W. Forney** and Jordan C Poler, “Optical modulation of microcantilevers by charge transfer between Ru coordination complexes and vertically-aligned SWNTs”  Symposium R, Materials Research Society Conference, San Francisco, CA April 5^th 2010 (Poster Presentation R5.45)

    

9. Jeffrey R. Alston** and Jordan C Poler, “Photoactive Supramolecular Scaffolds for Directed Nanoparticle Assembly”  Symposium OO, Materials Research Society Conference, San Francisco, CA April 5^th 2010 (Poster Presentation OO3.8)

10.  Etzkorn, M.; Timmerman, J. C.; Kane, C. M.; Meyers, T. B.; Gerken, M.; Poler, J. C.; Alston, J. R.**, “Fluorinated molecular tweezers with large binding clefts: syntheses, structures and host-guest chemistry”. Abstracts of Papers, 16th European Symposium on Fluorine Chemistry, Ljubljana, Slovenia, July 18-23, 2010 2010, Abstract C2.

11.  Alston, J. R.; Poler, J. C. Abstracts of Papers, 240th ACS National Meeting, Boston, MA, United States, August 22-26, 2010 "Synthesis and characterization of rigid +2 and +3 heteroleptic binuclear ruthenium coordination complexes" 2010, INOR-538. (Poster Presentation)

12.  Alston, J. R.; Poler, J. C. Abstracts of Papers, 240th ACS National Meeting, Boston, MA, United States, August 22-26, 2010 "Strongly binding ruthenium complexes for optically driven charge transfer between supramolecular and nanoscale systems" 2010, PHYS-464. (Poster Presentation)

13.  Alston, J. R.; Etzkorn, M.; Poler, J. C.; Timmerman, J. C. Abstracts of Papers, 240th ACS National Meeting, Boston, MA, United States, August 22-26, 2010 "Molecular tweezer: SWNT supramolecular complexes" 2010, COLL-278. (Poster Presentation)

14.  Forney, M. W.; Poler, J. C. Abstracts of Papers, 240th ACS National Meeting, Boston, MA, United States, August 22-26, 2010 "Sonochemical formation of methyl hydroperoxide in polar aprotic solvents and its effect on single-walled carbon nanotube dispersion stability" 2010, COLL-24. (Oral Presentation)

Research results which were supported by the ACS PRF grant has helped one of my Ph.D. students compete for and be awarded a NC Space grant fellowship to supplement his stipend.  He has also been awarded a Research Assistantship from the Energy Production  and Infrastructure Center at UNC Charlotte.

Central to this funded research is our effort to elucidate a fundamental understanding of directed self-assembly of nanoparticles using supramolecular systems.  Towards this and several series of metallodendrimers need to be synthesized.  These molecules are allowing us to deconvolute the effects of molecular morphology from the charge of the complex.  A better theoretical model for nanoparticle dispersions that we are developing may lead to new technology based on 3-dimensional assemblies of new nanoscale materials.  We believe we can control and affect these nanoparticles and thereby facilitate charge separation for future photovoltaic/solar energy applications.

Professionally, this research project has enabled me to grow and expand my scientific expertise into areas that I had very little prior training or experience.  It is rare when someone at my stage of their career has the opportunity to retool.  These new capabilities in my lab are giving me an advantage with regard to new strategies toward clarifying some fundamental questions regarding interactions at the nanoscale.