Twisting based on Chiral Transformation

• Applicant: Professor Dr. Wolfgang Binder
• Subject Area: Preparatory and Physical Chemistry of Polymers
• Term: since 2022
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 506699569

Both, synthetic or biological polymers, can form well defined 3D-structures, either in the solid state or in solution. One of the most prevalent secondary structures in both, synthetic polymers and proteins is the helix with similar helical structures found in a variety of different polymers. In contrast to α-helical structures of proteins, most of these polymers lack intramolecular stabilization by e.g. hydrogen bonds, unless specifically introduced in the side chains, often only stabilized by electronic and steric factors depending on the different polymer backbones and their side chains. In this project we plan to study collective behaviour or chirality transfer in defined molecules assemblies and geometries, such as on interfaces, in block-copolymer micelles, and in defined cyclic polymeric architectures. The idea is to control a specific assembly (2D, 3D) and study changes in helicity via chiral switches, embedded at the head of the helices. In particular, we will generate cyclic, helical polymers, where an additional (photo)-switch is embedded into at least one junction site, linking two of the helical polymers. The central idea is to switch chirality so as to influence the third-chain, generating a frustrated system, where the differently oriented helical chains are in competition for their preferred chirality. As a long term goal we plan to embed these molecules into spintronic devices, where chirality is inducing spin-polarization, resulting in a logic chiral device.

• DFG Programme: Research Grants