Visible light-induced pH control and its applications

This work explores how reversible light-induced pH changes can be increased and applied to control pH-responsive systems with light. Chapter 2 investigates how substitution patterns influence the acidity of merocyanine photoacids in the dark as well as under light irradiation. The parameters which are crucial for increasing light-induced pH changes are defined and applied to synthesized merocyanine photoacids. The light-induced pH changes starting from varying initial pH values are explored and a model is developed to estimate these based on experimentally defined parameters. Transient absorption spectroscopy was used to explore the influence of the protonation state of the merocyanine form (MCH vs MC) on the photoswitching efficiency. A python model is developed to describe the pH- recovery in the dark. Chapter 3 introduces an improved merocyanine photoacid, designed by principles outlined in Chapter 2. The acidity parameters and photoswitching abilities are characterized. The pH switching capacity is investigated and extended into the basic pH range. The light-induced pH switch by the improved photoacid is applied to control the protonation state of an indicator dye. Chapter 4 applies light-induced pH changes to influence the secondary structure of pH-sensitive DNA. The transient formation of these structures is explored. The influence of the initial pH value and a DNA binder on the ratio and kinetics of the system components is investigated. Chapter 5 applies light-induced pH changes to influence the properties of different types of supramolecular polymers. The challenges of applying merocyanine photoacids to generate structural changes of supramolecular polymers by influencing the components protonation state are highlighted. Chapter 6 presents brief conclusions and a future outlook for this research field.

Grantor dc:publisher

UNSW, Sydney

Year dc:date

2023

Author dc:creator

• Wimberger, Laura ; https://orcid.org/0000-0003-2940-3025

• anzsrc-for: 3405 Organic chemistry
• anzsrc-for: 3406 Physical chemistry
• anzsrc-for: 3403 Macromolecular and materials chemistry

Statement dc:rights

• open access
• CC BY 4.0
• free_to_read

Licence

• https://purl.org/coar/access_right/c_abf2
• https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/

Language dc:language

en

Identifier

https://doi.org/10.26190/unsworks/25037

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:unsworks.library.unsw.edu.au:1959.4/101330