From mononuclear metal complexes to supramolecular devices

One of the most important aims of photochemistry is the design and construc tion of artificial molecular devices for energy conversion and information processing. Assembling functionally integrated molecular components into an organised supramolecular structure can result in new functions and propert ies that are not available in each individual molecular component. Here art ificial photonic devices are described, based on transition metal complexes , which can be used to study energy-transfer processes and can act as molec ular switches.