Spectroscopy of substituted benzenes/biomolecules.
Lead Research Organisation:
University of Nottingham
Department Name: Sch of Chemistry
Abstract
Electronic and photoelectron spectra of substituted benzenes and simple biomolecules will be recorded using different laser spectroscopies. The internally-cold, isolated molecules will be produced by entrainment in free jet expansions, which will also allow molecular complexes of these to be targeted. The aim is to understand the electronic, vibronic and (where applicable) torsional energy level structure; particularly the interactions between close-lying levels of the same point-group or molecular-symmetry-group symmetry.
The experimental results will be supported by quantum chemical calculations, which will facilitate assignment of the spectra, while also providing atomic motions of the different eigenstates.
By looking at families of molecules with systematic changes in their molecular structure, insight will be gained on the role of symmetry, presence of methyl rotors, the variation in vibrational wavenumbers, and the density of states on the efficiency of coupling. Such information underpins concepts of energy flow and photostability, which, in turn, impacts on photodegradation of plastics and the robustness of biomolecules to ultraviolet radiation; the latter has clear links to skin cancer formation.
The experimental results will be supported by quantum chemical calculations, which will facilitate assignment of the spectra, while also providing atomic motions of the different eigenstates.
By looking at families of molecules with systematic changes in their molecular structure, insight will be gained on the role of symmetry, presence of methyl rotors, the variation in vibrational wavenumbers, and the density of states on the efficiency of coupling. Such information underpins concepts of energy flow and photostability, which, in turn, impacts on photodegradation of plastics and the robustness of biomolecules to ultraviolet radiation; the latter has clear links to skin cancer formation.
Organisations
Studentship Projects
| Project Reference | Relationship | Related To | Start | End | Student Name |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP/N50970X/1 | 01/10/2016 | 30/09/2021 | |||
| 1934851 | Studentship | EP/N50970X/1 | 01/10/2017 | 30/06/2020 | David Kemp |
| Description | Certain molecules and chemicals that occur widely in nature have been shown to have properties that allow them to disperse energy that may be imparted to them from natural sources of radiation, such as the ultraviolet light from the sun. Our contribution has been in the understanding of which properties of the molecule allow the most efficient form of energy dispersal, and how those properties of the molecules actually contribute this added molecular stability to high energy light, or photostability. We have shown that rearranging the formation of the building blocks, or the atoms, of the molecules can lead to drastic differences in the properties of the molecules. A number of these formation changes allow for interactions to occur between atoms within the molecule, thus allowing the energy that strikes to system to be redistributed amongst the parts of the molecule that interact. |
| Exploitation Route | The findings of this project are very early phase, and the intention is that this will be extended to looking at more complex molecular systems; we are starting to build up an understanding of simple molecular systems in the hope that we can start to understand more complex systems afterwards. Other scientific techniques are also available within other research groups would allow for different, but complimentary, information to be obtained which would aid the understanding on how energy is chemically redistributed amongst the molecule as a function of time, for example. |
| Sectors | Energy |