This $525,000 National Science Foundation project grant supports research into the influence of electron spin on the excited-state dynamics of transition metal complexes. Principal Investigator James K. McCusker of Michigan State University will synthesize and characterize a range of chemical systems to establish clear correlations between spin properties and photo-induced behaviors. The research aims to provide new insights into how the fundamental property of electron spin can be leveraged to create light-enabled molecular functionality. It will involve synthesizing transition metal donor-acceptor complexes with systematically varied spin properties and characterizing their photo-induced electron and energy transfer dynamics using steady-state and time-resolved optical and x-ray spectroscopies. Funded under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049), this three-year award beginning April 1, 2022 seeks to advance understanding of how conservation of angular momentum manifests in photochemical processes and suggest approaches for developing spin-based platforms to create and manipulate photo-induced molecular functionality.
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