Sterically Hindered Polymers for Organic Photovoltaic Applications (OPV)

在这个由化学部大分子、超分子和纳米化学项目资助的项目中，肯塔基大学的Mark Watson将探索侧链结构在共轭聚合物的组装和导电性能中的作用。该方法制备了三种具有独特重复单元的供体-受体共聚物：(1)供体单体携带烷氧基侧链，在聚合物主链的α和β位置上有越来越大的分支；(2)带有炔基侧链的给体单体，在3-和4-位置上有越来越粗的分支；(3)侧链垂直于聚合物主链的受体单体。合成聚合物的结构-性能关系将使用一系列表征方法进行描述。更广泛的影响包括在跨学科环境中培训本科生和研究生，通过访问区域机构进行动手科学演示，扩大未被充分代表的群体对化学科学的参与，以及参加为期一周的“暑期科学营”和当地儿童博物馆。塑料是长链有机分子，在日常生活的许多方面都有发现，包括食品包装，汽车和航空航天运输的结构材料，以及轻质电子设备。导电碳基（有机）分子和聚合物在实现高效、经济、广泛应用的电子和光学器件方面有着巨大的希望。本研究探讨了聚合物的结构如何影响其组装，进而影响其在电子设备中的性能和性能。最终，这项工作可能会导致有机电子材料、低成本太阳能电池、发光显示器以及化学和生物传感器的发展。

In this project funded by the Macromolecular, Supramolecular and Nanochemistry Program of the Chemistry Division, Mark Watson of the University of Kentucky will explore the role of side chain structure in the assembly and conducting properties of conjugated polymers. The approach is to prepare three classes of donor-acceptor copolymers possessing unique repeat units: (1) donor monomers carrying alkoxy side chains with increasingly bulky branches placed at the alpha- and beta-positions from the polymer backbone; (2) donor monomers carrying alkynyl side chains with increasingly bulky branches placed at the 3- and 4-positions; (3) acceptor monomers with side chains positioned perpendicular to the polymer backbone. Structure-property relationships in the synthesized polymers will be delineated using a series of characterization methods. The broader impacts involve training undergraduate and graduate students in an interdisciplinary environment, broadening participation of underrepresented groups in chemical sciences via visits to regional institutions to present hands-on science demonstrations and participation in week-long "Summer Science Camps" and a local children's museum.Plastics are long chain organic molecules and are found in many facets of everyday life, including food packaging, structural materials for automotive and aerospace transportation, and lightweight electronic devices. Electrically conducting carbon-based (organic) molecules and polymers hold enormous promise for realizing highly efficient, affordable, and broadly available electronic and optical devices. This research explores how the structure of the polymer affects its assembly which, in turn, impacts its properties and performance in electronic devices. Ultimately, such work could lead to the development of organic electronic materials, low cost solar cells, light emitting displays, and chemical and biological sensors.