Liquid crystalline materials containing boron clusters for electrooptical and cation transport application

技术摘要：拟议的研究是由固态和材料化学计划支持的当前NSF奖的延续，涉及液晶材料的设计，合成和研究，这些材料独特地适合于解决液晶领域的基本问题和应用问题。 所提出的材料是含有硼簇的液晶，硼簇是一类显示出不寻常的空间和电子特性的化合物。 由于这些材料具有满足现代社会技术需求的潜力，该项目有两个相关的目标：i）开发用于平板显示器的新型液晶材料，ii）用于可充电锂离子电池的新型近晶液晶电解质。该项目涉及的新材料的分子设计辅助量子力学计算，无机/有机合成方法，结构-性能关系的研究，电光特性和离子迁移率的调查。非技术摘要：这个多学科的计划支持的固态和材料化学程序是针对新的先进分子材料的发展，解决液晶领域的基本问题，并在平板显示器和可充电电池的应用。 该设计涉及独特的有机-无机混合分子，将使用广泛的现代研究工具进行合成和研究。 这项拟议中的工作将影响科学和工程的多个领域，并有望影响显示和储能技术。它将为相关人员（本科生，研究生和博士后工作者）提供极好的机会，通过研究以及国内和国际合作（包括LCD行业）获得现代材料化学的广泛培训。液晶的美学吸引力及其在现代技术中的重要性使其成为推广计划和公开演示的一个有吸引力的主题，这将在当前的资助期间继续进行。

TECHNICAL SUMMARY:The proposed research is a continuation of the current NSF award supported by the Solid State and Materials Chemistry Program and involves design, synthesis, and study of liquid crystalline materials that are uniquely suited to address fundamental questions and applied problems in the field of liquid crystals. The proposed materials are liquid crystals containing boron clusters, a class of compounds that display unusual steric and electronic properties. Because these materials have a potential to meet technological needs in modern society, the project has two related goals: i) the development of new nematic materials for applications in flat panel displays and ii) new smectic liquid crystalline electrolytes for rechargeable Li+ ion batteries. The project involves the molecular design of new materials aided by quantum-mechanical calculations, inorganic/organic synthetic methods, structure-property relationship studies, electrooptical characterization and ion mobility investigations.NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY:This multidisciplinary program supported by the Solid State and Materials Chemistry Program is directed towards the development of new advanced molecular materials for addressing fundamental questions in the field of liquid crystals and for applications in flat panel displays and rechargeable batteries. The design involves unique organic-inorganic hybrid molecules, which will be synthesized and investigated using a broad array of modern research tools. The proposed work will affect a number of areas of science and engineering, and is expected to impact display and energy storage technologies. It will provide excellent opportunities for involved personnel (undergraduates, graduate students, and postdoctoral workers) to obtain broad training in modern materials chemistry through research and also domestic and international collaborations, which include LCD industry. The aesthetic appeal of liquid crystals and their significance in modern technologies make them an attractive topic for outreach programs and public presentations, which will be continued during the current funding period.