B05 Energy conversion processes underlying the light-powered reversible guest exchange of photochromic coordination cages (Clever, Schwarzer)

This project examines a family of supramolecular coordination cages consisting of photochromic dithienylethene-ligands (DTE) which can be reversibly and quantitatively converted between a conformationally flexible “open-ring” form and a rigid “closed-ring” form. The elementary energy conversion steps of light harvesting via photo-switching, conversion into mechanical motion and modulation of non-covalent host-guest interactions are studied by time-resolved pump probe spectroscopy and various surface techniques. This system offers the opportunity for the realization of a light driven molecular machine.