Science Diagram Graphic

Current Research Areas

Research Overview

Our long term goal is the development of organized solid state materials that incorporate mechanically interlocked molecules (MIMs). A variety of artificial molecular switches and machines have been reported that are based on the relative motion of the components of mechanically interlocked molecules (MIMs).

However, these systems only operate in solution or in a condensed phase where the molecular devices are randomly dispersed and their motion incoherent. If these tiny devices could be organized in a predictable and orderly manner, then the creation of ultra-dense molecular-based memory or controlling the electronic properties of materials at the molecular level would be very much closer to realization.

Our approach to meeting these goals is to develop new supramolecular motifs, new interlocked molecular systems and tailor their structure and dynamics for incorporation into materials. 

For details see: