Partnerships for Research and Education in Materials (PREM)

Fundamental understanding of organic semiconductor and photovoltaic systems

The intellectual achievements during nine months period include a range of significant discoveries:

1. The development of a novel nanoparticle-based method to monitor the cleavage of DNA by single strand-specific nucleases (J. Phys. Chem. B , 2006, 110, 20745,
2. Demonstrated for the first time that 99% of DNA cleavage is achieved with >700 nm excitation light in the presence of a (L-lysine) (dppz) Cu (II) complex, where L-lysine is a potential photosensitizer in the metal bound form and N, N-donor heterocyclic bases (dppz) are DNA grove binders (Chem. Phys. Lett. 2007, 34, 12);
3. Observed very high TPA properties for aggregates of push-pull porphyrin chromophores (J. Phys. Chem. A, 2006, 110, 12342),
4. Reported a miniaturized, inexpensive, and battery operated ultra-sensitive gold nanoparticle-based FRET probe for screening mercury levels in water with excellent sensitivity (2 ppt) and selectivity for Hg2+ over competing analytes, including common metal ion contaminants Cu2+ and Pb2+, with the largest fluorescence enhancement to date for sensing Hg2+ in water (800-fold),
5. Demonstrated that metalloporphyrins with strong CT transition band have b values that are an order of magnitude larger than those of the porphyrin without metal (Chem. Phys. Lett. 2006, 431, 321) and
6. Explored the role played by metal electronic structure in determining the dimension of TPA properties ( Chem. Phys. Lett. 2007, in press)

The experiences gained from the interaction have been invaluable and initial programs involved:

1. Established collaborative undergraduate materials science intern program between JSU and UCSB,
2. Developed active and hands-on undergraduate and graduate courses to prepare minority students as future generation scientists and
3. Established a PREM Seminar Series and PREM Conferences.

Education of next generation materials scientists

Success of this PREM is due to the establishment of a robust infrastructure for the education, training and mentoring of minority students and postdoctoral fellows through formal course, PREM lecture series, PREM conference and laboratory rotations between JSU and UCSB. Ultimately, numerous minority students and women (14 students and twelve womens) have been involved in the materials research at both JSU and UCSB. Through innovative degree programs and lecture courses, our PREM allows the development of JSU as a center of excellence in advanced nanomaterial and polymer material research while significantly impacting the diversity, educational, and outreach activities at UCSB. The K-12 students from local schools in Mississippi are also benefited by participating in the PREM research program. Finally the PREM program is playing an important role in the larger framework of the JSU’s research enterprise by promoting inter-departmental collaborations among faculty members.

Development of Self-Assembly Biological relevant materials for sensor application - 1

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Selected Publications:

1. Gold Nanoparticle Based FRET Asssay for the Detection of DNA Cleavage, P. C. Ray, A. Fortner and G. K. Darbha, J. Phys. Chem. B, 2006, 110, 20745.
2. Near Infrared Photo-Induced DNA Damage in the Presence of Copper-dppz Complex: Evidence for the Involvement of Singlet Oxygen, Angela Fortner, Shuguang Wang, Gopala Krishna Darbha, Anandhi Ray, Hongtao Yu and Paresh Chandra Ray, Rajamohan R. Kalluru, Chan Kyu Kim, Vinita Rai and Jagdish P. Singh, Chem. Phys. Lett. 2007, 34, 12.
3. Very Large Infrared two Photon Absorption Cross Section of Asymmetric Zinc Porphyrin Aggregates: Role of Intermolecular Interaction and Donor-Acceptor Strengths, P. C. Ray, Z. Sainuideen, J. Phys. Chem. A, 2006, 110, 12342.4) Effect of central metal ions on first hyperpolarizability of unsymmetrical metal porphyrin, P. Bonifassi, P. C. Ray and J. Leszczynski, Chem. Phys. Lett. 2006, 431, 321.