CAREER: Investigations of Ordered Conducting Polymer Solids and Nanostructures: A Multidisciplinary Approach to Research and Teaching

该职业奖授予俄勒冈大学的James E. Hutchison，由化学部门的先进材料项目提供支持。该研究的目标是开发新的分子方法来优化π共轭导电聚合物的电导率、可加工性、非线性光学响应和/或电致变色。将研究两类新的自组织聚噻吩：(1)用化学聚合方法制备的区域规则聚4-烷基-2,2'-聚噻吩；(2)用分子模板法制备的聚噻吩/多肽杂化物。对这些聚合物类的物理研究将决定它们的共轭程度、链间电荷输运程度、电导率、带隙和非线性光学响应。聚噻吩/多肽杂化聚合物提供了增强的超分子秩序和制备埃级直径的离散分子线的机会，这些分子线可用于晶体管、分子开关或传感器等分子电子器件之间的互连。CAREER教育计划将提供研究和课堂培训，使学生更好地准备在多学科研究环境中脱颖而出。目标包括将研究纳入本科课程，促进同侪学习和自学，并向所有学生灌输“能行”解决问题的态度。建立虚拟办公时间和一个表面科学讨论小组将促进合作。由教师指导的自学课程旨在培养学生解决问题的能力。

This CAREER award made to James E. Hutchison at the University of Oregon is supported by the Advanced Materials Program in the Chemistry Division. The goal of the research is to develop new molecular approaches for optimizing the conductivity, processability, nonlinear optical response and/or electrochromism of pi-conjugated conducting polymers. Two new classes of self-organizing polythiophenes will be studied: (1) regioregular poly-4-alkyl-2,2'-bithiophenes prepared by chemical polymerization methods, and (2) polybithiphene/polypeptide hybrids prepared by molecular templating. Physical studies of these polymer classes will determine their extent of conjugation, degree of interchain charge transport, conductivities, band gaps and nonlinear optical responses. The polythiophene/polypeptide hybrid polymers provide enhanced supramolecular order and opportunities to prepare discreet molecular wires of Angstrom-scale diameter which may be useful as interconnects between molecular electronic devices such as transistors, molecular switches or sensors. The CAREER educational plan will provided research and classroom training to better prepare students to excel in multidisciplinary research environments. Objectives include integrating research into the undergraduate curriculum, promoting peer- and self-learning and instilling a `can-do` problem-solving attitude in all students. Establishment of virtual office hours, and a surface science discussion group will foster collaborations. Faculty-mentored, self-taught courses will be designed to build problem-solving skills.