CAREER: Rationally Designed Conjugated Polymers Based on Benzobisazoles

技术总结。共轭聚合物在诸如光伏电池、发光二极管和薄膜晶体管等应用中具有巨大的科学和技术重要性。通过化学合成改变共轭聚合物的电子特性的能力允许优化其特定应用的特性。然而，尽管有大量的可合成共轭聚合物，但这些值仍然是该领域的一个重要目标。在现有的共轭聚合物中，聚（苯并双唑）非常适合用于有机半导体应用，因为它们结合了光致发光和高效的电子传递以及优异的热稳定性。从历史上看，完全共轭的聚苯并双唑在非质子溶剂中不溶，限制了它们的使用。最近，Jeffries-EL小组已经证明，通过一种允许侧链容易变化的方法可以合成可溶性聚苯并双唑。该职业奖将支持以下方面的努力：(1)设计和合成新型可溶性聚（芳烯苯并二唑）聚合物，（ii）研究聚合物结构对这些材料的光学、电子和物理性质的影响，以及（iii）通过针对8 - 12年级代表性不足的学生的外展努力培养对聚合物科学的兴趣。本研究将阐明聚合物结构与电子性能之间的关系，为合成性能优化的有机电子导电聚合物提供合理依据。NON-TECHNIAL总结。共轭聚合物在学术上和商业上都被探索用于半导体应用。使用它们背后的动机是能够使用喷墨印刷等溶液处理技术制作大面积薄膜，这可以显著降低设备制造成本。该职业奖将(i)支持旨在增加设计具有优化性能的共轭聚合物用于“塑料”电子产品的基础知识的研究；（ii）为本科生和研究生提供跨学科研究经验；（iii）通过针对8 - 12年级代表性不足的学生的创造性外展努力，培养对聚合物科学的兴趣。

TECHNICAL SUMMARY. Conjugated polymers are of tremendous scientific and technological importance for use in applications such as photovoltaics cells, light-emitting diodes and thin-film transistors. The ability to modify the electronic properties of conjugated polymers through chemical synthesis allows for the optimizaton of their properties for specific applications. However, iin spite of the large number of synthetically accessible conjugated polymers, the values remains an important goal in the field. Among existing conjugated polymers, poly (benzobisazoles) are well suited for use in organic semi-conducting applications because they combine photoluminescence and efficient electron transport with excellent thermal stability. Historically, fully conjugated poly (benzobisazoles) are insoluble in aprotic solvents, limiting their use. Recently, the Jeffries-EL group has demonstrated that soluble poly (benzobisazoles) can be synthesized via an approach that allows for easy variation of the side chains. This CAREER award will support efforts to (1) design and synthesize novel soluble poly (arylene benzobisazole) polymers, (ii) investigate the influence of polymer structure on the optical, electronic and physical properties of these materials, and (iii) foster interest in polymer science through an outreach effort targeting underrepresented students in the 8th - 12th grade. this research will elucidate the relationship between polymer structures and electronic properties providing a rational basis for synthesizing conductive polymers with optimized properties for organic electronics.NON-TECHNIAL SUMMARY. Conjugated polymers are being explored both academically and commercially for use in semi-conducting applications. The motivation behind their use is the ability to make large area films using solution-processing techniques such as inkjet printing, which translates into a significant reduction in the cost of device manufacture. This CAREER award will (i) support research intended to increase basic knowledge for designing conjugated polymers with optimized properties for use as "plastic" electronics (ii) provide interdisciplinary research experiences for both undergraduate and graduate students, and (iii) foster interest in polymer science through a creative outreach effort targeting underrepresented students in the 8th - 12th grade.