ADVANCES TOWARD THE UTILIZATION OF CUCURBIT[7]URIL AND SELECTED VIOLOGENS IN MOLECULAR MACHINES AND DEVICES

Abstract

The study of technology at the molecular level is the perhaps the final frontier in materials science, and is fertile ground for the application of supramolecular chemistry. Cucurbit[7]uril is a particularly unique macrocycle that encapsulates smaller molecules and has potential application in enhancing the properties of guest molecules. This study has highlighted the reasons that the application of cucurbit[7]uril should be in the forefront of these emerging fields. The studies herein have gathered sound data supporting the use of cucurbit[7]uril in a variety of molecular scale devices. For example, cyclic voltammetry is used to demonstrate the protective effects provided by cucubit[7]uril to prevent photobleaching of small molecules that are potentially useful in dye-sensitive solar cells. Also, modes of binding, kinetic binding constants, and equilibrium binding constants have been determined for a variety of host-guest complexes which could lead to the strategic incorporation of these molecules into molecular machines and devices. Not only has previously held knowledge about the interactions of this macrocycle been confirmed, but the results here have increased the sphere of knowledge and may also guide future studies in this promising field.