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Molecules in Motion: From Sub‐Nanoscale to Macroscale
Author(s) -
Jin Yuhuan,
Rack Jeffrey J.
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
israel journal of chemistry
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.908
H-Index - 54
eISSN - 1869-5868
pISSN - 0021-2148
DOI - 10.1002/ijch.201300020
Subject(s) - chemistry , nanoscopic scale , nanotechnology , molecule , motion (physics) , chemical physics , classical mechanics , organic chemistry , physics , materials science
Ruthenium polypyridine complexes comprising sulfoxide ligands show dramatic photochromic behavior based on phototriggered S→O and O→S isomerization. Quantum yields of isomerization can be large, indicating that the excited‐state bond‐breaking and bond‐making reactions are efficient. Ultrafast transient absorption spectroscopy reveals both adiabatic and non‐adiabatic isomerization mechanisms. Incorporation of these complexes within polymer matrices leads to macroscopic bending of the polymer in an example of a direct transduction of photonic energy to mechanical energy.