IMCN thesis defence - CERFONTAINE Simon

Tuning the excited state deactivation pathways of multinuclear ruthenium(II) polypyridyl complexes : from synthesis to photochemistry

The light is the most important source of energy as it is at the basis of photosynthesis which is the origin of life on earth. The photosynthesis is a beautiful and complex machinery in which the absorption of light allows, via multiple electron transfer processes, the synthesis of molecular oxygen and carbohydrates. By following nature's example, the chemist tries to use light to achieve useful chemical transformations in the aim to synthesize molecules of interest. Taking advantage of light is probably the only way to sustain life on earth for a long time.

During this Ph.D. thesis, we have investigated the photophysical properties of some novel luminescent Ru(II) polynuclear complexes. We emphasize the substantial influence of the bridging ligand geometry on the deactivation pathways. Indeed, a suitable geometry allows obtaining a highly delocalized excited state which increases significantly the excited state lifetime. This strategy was implemented with success to polynuclear complexes based on bridging ligands constituted of bipyridine as well as terpyridine chelating moieties. Some developed polynuclear complexes were successfully used as photosensitizers in a photocatalyzed reaction, they have shown to be able to perform the reaction with a higher yield, lower catalytic loading and with less energetical light than the well-known [Ru(bpy)3]2+ complex.

Jury members :

• Prof. Benjamin Elias (UCLouvain), supervisor
• Prof. Yann Garcia (UCLouvain), chairperson
• Prof. Clément Lauzin (UCLouvain), secretary
• Prof. Michel Devillers (UCLouvain)
• Prof. Daniel Escudero (KU Leuven, Belgium)
• Dr. Murielle Chavarot-Kerlidou (Université Grenoble Alpes, France)

Pay attention :

The public defense of Simon CERFONTAINE scheduled for Friday 11 December at 16:00 will take place in the form of a video conference Teams

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