Redox switches for chemical detection extraction purification catalysis and data and energy storage

Background: University of Nevada Reno researchers Dr. Masahiro Muraoka Dr. Stephen L. Gillett (Mackay School of Mines) and Dr. Thomas W. Bell (Department of Chemistry) have developed a redox-switchable material technology comprised of a redox-active material connected by adsorption and/or chemical bonding to a semiconductor. Technology Description: Redox-switchable materials consist of a redox-active part that can have its chemical charge selectively and reversibly switched between a reduced state and an oxidized state (between positive and negative charge; hence reduction-oxidation or redox switchable.) As described here the material consists of a solid semiconductor base adsorbed bonded or both to the redox-active component. Redox-switchable materials can be toggled by external triggers such as light electricity or chemical charge and they can in turn change their own chemical charge; they are not only switchable but work as switches themselves. Their precise sensitivity to such triggers also makes them useful for sensing small quantities of solutes selective transport of charged particles (filtration for example) and catalysis. They may even have applications in molecular nanotechnology as controllers for the self-assembly of molecular devices. Existing methods for “recognizing” and extracting solutes from a solution (i.e. ion-exchange resins zeolites and macrocylic compounds) have been developed but they suffer in common from an “elution problem”: the adsorber or binding agent once saturated with the extracted component holds on to it and makes final removal difficult and expensive. This problem could be avoided if the adsorber or binding agent could have its affinity selectively changed triggering it to “let go” of the solute—an option that redox-switchable materials make available. The redox-active moieties demonstrated in this technology are ferrocenes acridines and quinones but other redox-active materials suffice. Applications: 1) Switchable selective extraction of certain solutes from aqueous solutions: pollution control water purification desalination hydrometallurgy 2) Selective complexation of solutes: treatment of metal intoxication design of antibiotics that use complexation imaging agents in the body ion-exchange materials hydrometallurgy metal ion sequestering in detergents 3) Sensors for detecting small quantities of solutes: biological applications poison/toxin detection geological surveying water quality measurement product quality control 4) Photoerasable reusable writing media or data storage: advanced computing chemical information backup information science 5) Photochromic or electrochromic materials (materials whose properties change on application of light or an electric field): sunglasses molecular switches data storage smart glass smart windows 6) Catalysis of reactions especially in electrosynthesis of fuels and other materials (i.e. chemical energy storage): electrolysis of water to store energy via hydrogen and other fuels 7) Electrosorption or “artificial photosynthesis” for solar/light energy storage 8) Nanotechnology: Controlling the self-assembly of molecular devices Patent Status: US Patent: No. 7435362 Opportunity for collaboration: The University of Nevada is seeking expressions of interest from parties interested in collaborative research to further develop evaluate or commercialize this technology