13th Early Stage Researchers Workshop in Nanoscience

Harnessing Six-Membered Phosphorus Heterocycles in the Design of π-Extended Organic Architectures: A Pathway to Enhanced Stability and Luminescence

Abstract

π-Extended organic architectures represent a captivating class of compounds with profound implications in materials science. The exceptional properties attributed to these compounds, such as strong luminescence and high charge mobilities, are primarily driven by the efficient overlap of atomic orbitals across an extended network of polyaromatic systems. However, the practical utility of large π-systems is hindered by issues like susceptibility to oxidation, decomposition, and poor processability, which impede a comprehensive understanding of their physicochemical properties.

In that context, six-membered phosphorus heterocycles (6M-PHs) are particularly attractive building blocks.¹ Their introduction into the framework of π-extended systems often leads to lowering both the LUMO and HOMO and thus decreases the chance of oxidative or photodecomposition.² However, the chemistry of fused systems based on 6M-PHs is at its early stage; benchmarking structure/properties relationships are still far from being established.

In this communication, I will present an overview of our research efforts on π-systems based on 6M-PHs. I will describe the synthesis and properties of materials featuring an increasing number of phosphorus heterocycles. Furthermore, I will also discuss the impact of the phosphorus post-functionalizations into their optoelectronic and physicochemical properties; most of the derivatives are highly soluble in common organic solvents and feature fluorescence quantum yields up to 84%. All-in-all, I will describe the benefits of introducing 6M-PHs into large π-extended systems, paving the way for enhanced stability and luminescence, and shedding light on the potential applications of these materials in diverse fields of science and technology.

Biography

Carlos Romero-Nieto obtained his PhD in organic chemistry from the University of Castilla-La Mancha (Spain). During his PhD, in 2008, he joined the group of Prof. Thomas Baumgartner, at the University of Calgary (Canada) for more than one year. In 2010, he moved to the University of Erlangen-Nuremberg (Germany), Prof. Dirk Guldi's group, to pursue a postdoc in physical chemistry. In 2013, he was awarded with the Liebig Fellowship, which allowed him to start his independent career at the University of Heidelberg (Germany). In 2019, he obtained the habilitation (Venia Legendi) from the University of Heidelberg. Back to Spain, at the Faculty of Pharmacy of the University of Castilla-La Mancha, Carlos Romero-Nieto leads a research group focused on the development of new synthetic methodologies for the preparation of novel systems based on six-membered phosphorus heterocycles for bio-applications and materials science, and the investigation of their properties. He has published more than 55 articles in high-level scientific journals, 18 of which have appeared on the cover. Since he started with his research group at the University of Heidelberg in 2013, he has supervised more than 50 researchers and has led 12 research projects with regional as well as national and international funding. He has presented the science of his research group at more than 50 scientific conferences and given more than 25 seminars at some of the most prestigious universities in 4 continents.

In 2016, Carlos Romero-Nieto was awarded by the University of Heidelberg with the prestigious Hengstberger Award for Young Researchers. In 2018, he obtained the National Award for Young Researchers from the Spanish Royal Chemical Society (RSEQ), in 2020 the Award for Young Researchers from the Spanish Royal Chemical Society of Castilla-La Mancha and, in 2021, he was awarded as Fellow by the International Association of Advanced Materials. In 2023 he was awarded the Prize for Young Researchers from the Regional Government of Castilla-La Mancha and obtained the ERC Consolidator.

From Design to Motion: Unveiling the Potential of Light-Driven Microswimmers

Abstract

Self-propelled micro/nanoswimmers represent a groundbreaking technological frontier, wherein tiny devices adeptly convert energy from their surroundings into mechanical motion. In particular, optical actuation emerges as a particularly promising avenue, offering a multi-faceted toolkit encompassing wavelength, polarization, intensity, and direction for motion modulation.

Within this presentation, I will introduce a novel class of photoactive microswimmers constructed from semiconductors, capable of responsive movement under external light irradiation. The talk will focus on the fundamental principles underpinning self-propelled photocatalytic-based microswimmers, followed by an exploration of diverse strategies aimed at cost reduction and enhanced synthesis yields. I will also showcase the remarkable versatility and potential of these photoactivated micromachines in the context of environmental remediation and food safety. Through illustrative demonstrations, I will demonstrate their versatility in effectively eliminating microbial and toxic contaminants from diverse samples under visible-light irradiation, thereby highlighting their tangible impact on real-world challenges.

Biography: 

Katherine Villa obtained her Ph.D. in Chemistry at the Autonomous University of Barcelona. After two research positions at the Catalonia Energy Research Institute and Institute for Bioengineering of Catalonia, she joined the Center for Advanced Functional Nanorobots at the University of Chemistry and Technology, Prague (Czech Republic), where she worked as a senior scientist for 3 years. Recently, she moved back to Spain, where she is currently group leader at the Institute of Chemical Research of Catalonia (ICIQ). Her scientific trajectory has been recognized by several awards and distinctions (Young Researcher Award-RSEQ, Young Academy of Spain, Leonardo BBVA, Mother of Science-BIST, among others). Moreover, she has obtained national and international competitive funding, including a prestigious ERC Starting Grant 2022 for her project (PhotoSwim). Her research interests include photocatalysis, nanomaterials, renewable energy, micro/nanorobots, and environmental remediation.