GOALI: Quantum Amplified Isomerization: A New Strategy for Polymeric Optical Materials

该GOALI奖项由数学与物理科学理事会材料研究司和多学科活动办公室共同资助，涉及罗切斯特大学和伊士曼柯达公司之间的合作。描述了一种基于量子放大异构化（QAI）过程的光响应聚合物的新概念。QAI材料被定义为吸收光后发生电子转移引发的离子自由基链异构化反应的聚合物。QAI材料有潜力克服与现有光响应聚合物相关的许多已知问题，同时仍然保留其主要优势。具体来说，QAI材料被设计成在每个光子吸收时产生许多化学转变，而很少或没有伴随的尺寸变化。本提案的主要研究目标是：(1)获得对构成QAI过程基础的基本离子自由基链反应化学的预测性理解，(2)测试有效启动QAI过程的增敏策略，(3)利用(1)和(2)的见解设计和合成功能化的QAI聚合物，以及(3)表征新的QAI材料的关键光学性质。这项合作涉及光化学和通信光学材料领域，并涉及许多教育经验，包括为学生进行现场工业研究以及学术和工业联合pi之间的每周小组会议。

This GOALI award, co-funded by the Division of Materials Research and the Office of Multidisciplinary Activities of the Directorate for Mathematical & Physical Sciences, involves a collaboration between the University of Rochester and the Eastman Kodak Company. A new concept for photoresponsive polymers is described based on a process called Quantum Amplified Isomerization (QAI). QAI materials are defined as polymers that undergo electron transfer-initiated ion radical chain isomerization reactions upon absorption of light. QAI materials have the potential to overcome many of the known problems associated with existing photoresponsive polymers, while still retaining their primary advantages. Specifically, QAI materials are designed to produce many chemical tranformations per photon absorbed, with little or no accompanying dimensional changes. The primary research goals of this proposal are: (1) to obtain a predictive understanding of the fundamental ion radical chain reaction chemistry that forms the basis of QAI processes, (2) to test sensitization strategies for the efficient inititaion of QAI processes, (3) to use the insights from (1) and (2) to design and synthesize functionalized QAI polymers, and (3) to characterize key optical properties of new QAI materials.This collaboration is in the fields of photochemistry and optical materials for communications, and involves a number of educational experiences, including on-site industrial research for the students and weekly group meetings among the academic and industrial co-PI's.