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Kirk Schanze desvenda os mistérios da Luz

Especialista em polímeros conjugados vem à 38ª. RASBQ para falar sobre conversão energética e biodiagnósticos

Ele busca compreender a luz e seus efeitos sobre pequenas moléculas e materiais. Longe de ser um guru esotérico, Kirk Schanze tem se debruçado sobre este tema nos últimos 30 anos, e suas pesquisas levaram a uma série de aplicações comerciais ligadas a sensores de sinalização e sistemas de segurança. Seus estudos mais recentes focam na evolução da geração de energia elétrica pela luz solar e em novas possibilidades de diagnósticos médicos em exames que utilizam a luz. 

É justamente sobre esse tema que Schanze vem falar na 38ª. Reunião Anual da SBQ, a ser realizada em maio, em Águas de Lindóia. "Irei descrever as propriedades e aplicações de uma classe específica de polímeros orgânicos, conhecidos como polímeros conjugados ou condutores", disse Schanze ao Boletim da SBQ. "Os aspectos relacionados a diagnósticos biomédicos e conversão energética são de interesse amplo para cientistas e público em geral."

Schanze formou-se químico pela Universidade Florida State em 1979. Em 1983 concluiu seu doutoramento pela Universidade de North Carolina. O pós-doc foi feito em Berkeley, entre 1984 e 86, quando começou sua carreira de professor independente na Universidade da Florida, onde atualmente é Distinguished Professor e Prominski Professor. Entre 2000 e 2008 editou a publicação Langmuir, da American Chemical Society (ACS). E desde 2008 é o editor-chefe da prestigiada publicação ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces. Nos últimos 11 anos foi autor ou coautor de mais 140 artigos vastamente citados, sobre temas ligados à pesquisa básica e aplicada, sobretudo em química de materiais orgânicos e organometálicos. Detém 15 patentes. 

 

Schanze concedeu a seguinte entrevista ao Boletim da SBQ

One of your recent research themes concerns the interaction of light with small molecules, polymers, and materials. What are the goals of this research?

My research has the goal of understanding the chemical and physical manifestations of the interaction of light with matter. In chemistry, we call this field "photochemistry and photophysics", and our work seeks to understand the fundamental principles of this field as it relates to conjugated molecules and polymers (we think of these molecules as being "molecular wires"). We are also interested in the applications of photochemistry and photophysics, and these applications include sensing or detection of chemical or biological molecules (molecules, ions, proteins, DNA, etc), light emitting devices (next generation light sources) and solar cells (light to electrical power conversion). 

 

How big (or small) is the distance between your achievements of more efficient materials and their broad use? Does the industry already benefit from your findings? 
Some of the work we have done over the past 30 years has led to commercial applications, including development of light emitting sensor materials that facilitate measurement of aerodynamic properties in wind-tunnel use, and materials that can be used in defense and security applications including infrared signaling and laser protection. Currently, the conjugated polymers we are working on are being developed for biomedical application as sensors and as antibiotic agents. This application work is being led by several start-up companies. 

 

How did your passion for Chemistry start? 

My interest in chemistry was stimulated in college, in part due to interacting with enthusiastic instructors. I also was strongly influenced and inspired by leaders in my field, including Prof. Jack Saltiel (Florida State University), Prof. Michael Kasha (Florida State University, deceased), Prof. David Whitten (University of New Mexico) and Prof. Thomas Meyer (University of North Carolina). 

 

Why should young people study Chemistry? 
Chemistry is the "central science", and this means that a foundation in chemistry can be a springboard to success in a variety of technical and non-technical fields. Students who start their careers by studying chemistry open horizons to work in almost any field, with examples including journalism, scientific publishing, forensic science, biotechnology, engineering and medicine. In addition to allowing one to understand the fundamental structure of our world (chemistry is everywhere!), the study of chemistry provides one with a lifetime ability to think critically and solve problems, and these skills are useful in almost any career path. 

 

What would say to the Chemical community in Brazil? 

I am always impressed by the beauty of Brazil and the kindness of the people. In addition, the scientific community in Brazil is among the best in the world. I look forward greatly to the opportunity to meet with many scientists and engineers at the Brazilian Chemical Society meeting in May 2015. 

 

Artigos sugeridos:

 

Hyperbranched Conjugated Polyelectrolyte Bilayers for Solar-Cell Applications”, P. Taranekar, Q. Qiao, H. Jiang, I. Ghiviriga, K.S. Schanze, J.R. Reynolds, J. Am. Chem. Soc.2007129, 8958-8959. DOI: 10.1021/ja073216a.

Phosphorescent Platinum Acetylide Organogelators”, T. Cardolaccia, Y. Li, K.S. Schanze,  J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2008130, 2535-2545. DOI: 10.1021/ja0765316.

Low-Band-Gap Platinum Acetylide Polymers as Active Materials for Organic Solar Cells”, J. Mei, K. Ogawa, Y.G. Kim, N.C. Heston, D. J. Arenas, Z. Nasrollahi, T.D. McCarley, D.B. Tanner, J.R. Reynolds, K.S. Schanze, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces20091, 150-161. DOI: 10.1021/am800104k.

Conjugated Polyelectrolyte Capsules: Light-Activated Antimicrobial Micro ‘Roach Motels’”, T.S. Corbitt, J.R. Sommer, S. Chemburu, K. Ogawa, L.K. Ista, G.P. Lopez, D.G. Whitten, K.S. Schanze, ACS Appl. Mater. Interfaces 20091, 48-52. DOI: 10.1021/am800096q.

Low-Bandgap Donor−Acceptor Conjugated Polymer Sensitizers for Dye-Sensitized Solar Cells”, Z. Fang, A.A. Eshbaugh, K.S. Schanze, J. Am. Chem. Soc. 2011133, 3063-3069. DOI: 10.1021/ja109926k.

 

Para saber mais sobre Kirk Schanze: 
https://schanze.chem.ufl.edu/

 

Texto: Mario Henrique Viana (Assessoria de Imprensa da SBQ)