Molecular Keypad Locks: Synthesis and Optical Characterization of Fluorescent-Photochromic Molecules.

Molecular Keypad Locks: Synthesis and Optical Characterization of Fluorescent-Photochromic Molecules.

Advisor/s

George Vamvounis

College or Research Centre

College of Science & Engineering

Summary of Project

Interest in protecting information on the molecular scale is increasing rapidly. For instance, the enhancement of security features in bank notes are becoming ever more challenging with counterfeit notes. Recently, we have developed a new series of molecular keypad locks based on photochromic fluorescent molecules (see: Phys. Chem. Chem. Phys., 2017, 19, 19984). In this system, we have shown that the fluorescence of a photochromic molecule could be modulated based on an entry code. However, further enhancement of the stability, reliability, processability and the complexity of the code within the security ink is still needed. To address these, you will: 1. synthesize and structurally characterise new fluorescent photochromic materials. 2. characterise the optical (absorption and emission) and thermal properties of your novel materials. 3. work within a JCU (Prof. Ron White, Dr. Bronson Philippa) and an Australia-wide (http://aucaos.org.au/) interdisciplinary research team that is pushing-forward the next generation of organic semiconductors.

Key Words

polymer chemistry; organic chemistry; fluorescence; security inks; thermal properties

Would suit an applicant who

Has interest in Organic, Polymer and/or Physical Chemistry and enjoys working in a multidisciplinary team.

Updated: 08 Apr 2020