Coral Hillel, York University

Research

Azobenzene Bioplastics Density Functional Theory Light-Responsive Materials Photoisomerization Photoswitches Protonation Pump-Probe Spectroscopy

Latest papers

On the unexpected mechanism of isomerization in tautomerizable azo photoswitches.
Communications chemistry · 2026 · first author
Solid state NMR and DFT studies of azo-hydrazone tautomerism in azo dyes and chitosan-dye films.
Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP · 2025 · first author
A cautionary tale of basic azo photoswitching in dichloromethane finally explained.
Communications chemistry · 2024 · first author

All 4 publications

Latest funding

75th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting Travel Award Recipient
CIHR · 2025 · Nominated PI

All 1 grants and awards

4 publications.

01

On the unexpected mechanism of isomerization in tautomerizable azo photoswitches.

Hillel C, Barrett CJ, Pietro WJ, Mermut O

Communications chemistry2026First author

DOI: 10.1038/s42004-026-01952-5 PMID: 41735503

02

Solid state NMR and DFT studies of azo-hydrazone tautomerism in azo dyes and chitosan-dye films.

Hillel C, Collins S, Parihar A, Mermut O, Barrett CJ, Pietro WJ, Reven L

Physical chemistry chemical physics : PCCP2025First author

DOI: 10.1039/d4cp04159c PMID: 39982065

03

A cautionary tale of basic azo photoswitching in dichloromethane finally explained.

Hillel C, Rough S, Barrett CJ, Pietro WJ, Mermut O

Communications chemistry2024First author

DOI: 10.1038/s42004-024-01321-0 PMID: 39487336

04

Chitosan-azo dye bioplastics that are reversibly resoluble and recoverable under visible light irradiation.

Kim M, Hillel C, Edwards K, Pietro W, Mermut O, Barrett CJ

RSC advances2024

DOI: 10.1039/d4ra02211d PMID: 39156744

75th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting Travel Award Recipient

Nominated PICIHR2025Lindau Prize

Principal investigators: Hillel, Coral

Keywords: Azobenzene; Bioplastics; Density Functional Theory; Light-Responsive Materials; Photoisomerization; Photoswitches; Protonation; Pump-Probe Spectroscopy; Silicon Photomultiplier; Thermal Isomerization

From CIHR, NSERC and SSHRC funding decisions: CIHR since 2008, NSERC since 1991 and SSHRC since 1998, including their latest published competition results.

Frequent collaborators

Ozzy Mermut

Radiation Medicine

4 shared papers, latest 2026

Write to this professor

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Applying for

Paper to mentionMention their CIHR grant from 2025

Subject: Prospective PhD student: Azobenzene Dear Professor Hillel, My name is [your name], and I am a [your current degree or role] at [your institution]. I am applying for a PhD position starting in [term and year]. I read your paper "On the unexpected mechanism of isomerization in tautomerizable azo photoswitches." (2026), and it connects closely to my own work on [your research topic]. [One or two sentences on what you did and what you learned.] I also saw your CIHR-funded project "75th Lindau Nobel Laureate Meeting Travel Award Recipient" (2025), and I would be glad to contribute to work in that direction. Are you accepting new PhD students for [term and year]? I have attached my CV and transcripts, and I would be glad to talk at a time that suits you. Thank you for your time. Kind regards, [your name]