The aim of this project is the development of reaction centers from photosynthetic bacteria for use in molecule-based components and devices. Reaction centers (RCs) exhibit are markably highly efficient, extremely rapid, long-distance photoinduced charge separation under a wide range of conditions.The reaction center has electronic properties which are far superior, more flexible, and much less expensive to produce thanany known synthetic donor/acceptor system. The key goal of the project will be to develop and to optimize strategies for the covalent attachment of reaction centers to electrode surfaces and to other reactive components. Molecular modelling will be used to decide among the many possible approaches, by evaluating thelimitations and opportunities for each approach. If awell-defined interface can be fabricated between an orderedassembly capable of long-distance electron transfer and anelectrode, then the potential for preparing light-drivenmolecular switches and novel sensors will have been realized. The long term objective is the design of molecular devices,including molecular switches and biosensors.
