Annie Butler Ricks

Northwestern University
2190 Campus Drive
Ryan Hall 2025
Evanston, IL 60208-3113

E-mail: abutlerricks@u.northwestern.edu

Ph: (847) 467-4944

Education

2001 - 2005: Bryn Mawr College, Bryn Mawr, PA
Major: Chemistry

2005 – Present: Northwestern University
Ph. D. Candidate – Chemistry

Publications

"Temperature Dependent Molecular Locking of meso-Hexakis(pentafluorophenyl) [28]Hexaphyrins(1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1) into Möbius Structures," K. S. Kim, Z. S. Yoon, A. Butler Ricks, J.-Y. Shin, S. Mori, J. Sankar, S. Saito, Y. M. Jung, M. R. Wasielewski, A. Osuka, and D. Kim, J. Am. Chem. Soc. (submitted).
 
"Intersystem Crossing Mediated by Photoinduced Intramolecular Charge Transfer: Julolidine-Anthracene Donor-Acceptor Molecules," Z. E. X. Dance, S. M. Mickley, M. J. Ahrens, A. Butler Ricks, M. A. Ratner, and M. R. Wasielewski, J. Phys. Chem. A 112 , 4194-4201 (2008).
 
"Direct Observation of the Preference of Hole Transfer Over Electron Transfer for Radical Ion Pair Recombination in Donor-Bridge-Acceptor Molecules," Z. E. X. Dance, M. J. Ahrens, A. M. Vega, A. Butler Ricks, D. W. McCamant, M. A. Ratner, and M. R. Wasielewski, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 130, 830-832 (2008).

Research:

As silicon-based technology approaches its limits for efficiency and size, single molecule interactions are being studied as the basis for future data processing and storage. Since 1974, when the idea that a single molecule could act like a wire was proposed by Aviram and Ratner, there has been an increased interest in employing conjugated organic molecules as wires for use in molecular electronics, because of their ability to transport charge rapidly over long molecular distances. Typically, these systems are comprised of donor-bridge-acceptor (D-B-A) molecules, which are useful model complexes for the study of charge transfer (CT) mechanisms (Figure 1).

Figure 1: Model of a Donor-Bridge-Acceptor Molecule

My project involves synthesizing various D-B-A systems that undergo electron transfer (ET) from the donor to the acceptor. The D-B-A molecules (Figure 2) were designed to investigate the influence of bridge dynamics on charge transport. The molecules are studied using various techniques; the primary one that I utilize is femtosecond transient absorption spectroscopy, which enables me to determine the rates of charge separation and determine if they are approaching wire-like behavior (Figure 3). The molecules can also be studied using such techniques as EPR, nanosecond transient absorption, and femtosecond stimulated Raman spectroscopy.

Figure 2: The donor-bridge-acceptor molecules that I have designed, synthesized, and studied.

Figure 3: A sample transient absorption spectra.

 

 

 
Group | Research | Facilities | Publication | Contact |
Northwestern Home | Calendar: Plan-It Purple | Sites A-Z | Search
Department of Chemistry and Center for Nanofabrication and Molecular Self-Assembly
 2145 Sheridan Road   Evanston, IL 60208-3113
Phone: (847) 467-1423  Fax: (847) 467-1425 Email:m-wasielewski@northwestern.edu
Last updated 01/02/2009 10/1/2005  World Wide Web Disclaimer and University Policy Statements  
© 2005 Northwestern University