Françisco M. Raymo

Our research efforts are aimed at the identification of valuable strategies to manipulate molecules with photons and photons with molecules on the basis of absorption and emission processes.  The ultimate goal of these fundamental studies is the development of new phenomena and innovative materials for possible applications in biomedical research and information technology.  Specifically our experimental program demands the design and synthesis of inorganic nanoparticles, organic compounds and macromolecular constructs, their structural characterization and the investigation of their electrochemical, photochemical and photophysical properties.  In this context, we have already developed mechanisms to:
·   perform logic operations with photochromic compounds;
·   sense analytes with chromogenic and luminescent assemblies of inorganic nanoparticles and organic compounds;
·   self-assemble films of electrochromic building blocks on metallic electrodes;
·   design photochromic compounds with fast switching speeds and excellent fatigue resistances;
Current research efforts are directed to the design of molecular strategies to overcome diffraction.  These fundamental investigations can lead to viable protocols for the reading and writing of information at the nanometer level with far-field optics and can have a long-term impact on fluorescence imaging and photolithography.  In particular we are in the process of developing experimental protocols:
·   to switch the emission of fluorescent probes under optical control;
·   impose biocompatibility on semiconductor quantum dots.