Amy Keirstead publishes in Chemical Physics Letters

Amy Keirstead, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Chemistry and Physics, recently published an article titled “Direct Observation of Spiropyran Phosphorescence in Imidazolium Ionic Liquids” in the journal Chemical Physics Letters. The article includes work done by undergraduate student co-authors Sean Naughton (Biochemistry and Medical Biology ’13), Robyn Gaudet (Chemistry ’11) and Annie Leslie (Neuroscience ’13).

The study describes the luminescence behavior of a novel “on-off” molecular switch (the spiropyran) in a series of ionic liquids, which are thought to be “green” alternatives to conventional solvents.  Specifically, the spiropyran was shown to emit both red fluorescence and blue-green phosphorescence in the ionic liquids compared to only fluorescence in molecular solvents, and it is the first reported example of spiropyran phosphorescence in ionic liquids. This type of system could be used to form a robust two-state-two-color emitting “switch” device for future nanotechnology applications.

(Complete citation: Sean P. Naughton, Robyn M. Gaudet, Anne A. Leslie, Amy E. Keirstead. Chemical Physics Letters 556 (2013) 102-107.)
 

About the University of New England

The University of New England is Maine’s largest independent university, with two beautiful coastal campuses in Maine, a one-of-a-kind study abroad campus in Tangier, Morocco, and an array of flexible, accredited online degrees. In an uncommonly welcoming and supportive community, we offer hands-on learning, empowering students to make a positive impact in a world full of challenges. The state’s top provider of health professionals, we are home to Maine’s only medical college, Maine’s only dental college, a variety of other interprofessionally aligned health care degree programs, as well as nationally recognized programs for marine science degrees, natural and social sciences degrees, arts and humanities degrees, and business degrees.