PhotIron (Towards iron complexes with new photophysical properties and functions) is a 3-year collaborative project (Budget 400k€) coordinated by Philippe Gros.

The project aims at designing light-responsive compounds from cheap and environmentally benign metal-complexes. While ruthenium complexes have been widely investigated due to ideal photophysical properties, the price and rarity of Ru limit the industrial development. Our project aims at replacing such metal by iron that is strategic in the search for low cost device and resource-preservation. However, the replacement of ruthenium by iron is extremely challenging due to an ultrafast deactivation of the 1,3MLCT (Metal Ligand Charge Transfer) states into the low-energy metal-centered state making Fe-pyridine unexploitable for photonic applications.

Based on an interdisciplinary approach combining synthetic chemistry (L2CM Nancy), quantum chemistry simulations (LPCT Nancy) and ultrafast spectroscopy (IPCMS Strasbourg), the aim of the current project is to understand and rationalize the impact of the chemical structure of iron complexes on their photophysical properties in order to operate a proper design for photochemical applications.

Participants:

L2CM: P.C.Gros (DR), C. Cebrian (MC), S. Parant (IE), K. Magra (Doctorant)

LPCT: X. Assfeld (Pr), A. Monari (MC), M. Pastore (CR), A. Moneris (Post-doc)

IPCMS (Strasbourg): S. Haacke (Pr), J. Brazard (CR), E. Domenichini (Doctorant)