"Higher Energy Gap" Control Principle in Fluorescent Conjugated Polymers

在这个由化学部化学结构、动力学和机理-B（CSDM-B）项目资助的项目中，路易斯安那州立大学的Evgueni Nesterov教授正在开发一种新的使用半导体聚合物放大荧光传感器的操作原理。 该计划直接影响了有前途的研究和技术领域之一，有机光电和传感材料，使用高灵敏度和可靠的检测设备检测重要目标。 要研究的材料包括具有双重功能的材料，例如，用于同时检测和解毒有机磷战剂的多孔有机材料。 参与的学生接受多学科和协作方式的培训，使他们在高科技就业市场上具有高度竞争力。本研究计划的最终目标是开发和详细研究用于控制荧光共轭聚合物（CPs）物理性质的新型“高能隙”范例。 当前的目标是制备具有高化学传感性能和实用性的新型CP材料。 该项目涉及：（1）设计和合成了一系列含有反应位点的CP体系，这些反应位点在与目标分析物反应时被转化为更高的能量;（2）电子物理研究（包括时间分辨光谱）和合成操作以评估更高能隙控制的性质;（3）设计实用的化学传感器系统，利用该控制原理作为基于CP中能量迁移的传统放大方案的自然对应物。 除了先进传感系统对国家安全和环境监测的直接实际利益外，这项工作的更广泛影响包括对STEM学科研究生和本科生的多学科培训，公众对现代科学和技术的认识和欣赏以及年轻一代对科学的兴趣增加。

In this project funded by the Chemical Structure, Dynamics, and Mechanisms-B (CSDM-B) Program of the Chemistry Division, Professor Evgueni Nesterov of Louisiana State University is developing a new operational principle for amplifying fluorescent sensors using semiconducting polymers. This program directly impacts one of the promising research and technological fields, organic optoelectronic and sensing materials, using highly sensitive and reliable detecting devices for important targets. Materials to be studied include those with dual functions, for example, porous organic materials for simultaneous detection and detoxification of organophosphate warfare agents. Participating students are trained in a multidisciplinary and collaborative fashion, preparing them to become highly competitive in the high-tech job market. The ultimate goal of this research program is to develop and study in detail the novel "higher energy gap" paradigm for controlling photophysical properties of fluorescent conjugated polymers (CPs). The immediate objective is the preparation of novel CP materials which achieve high chemosensing performance and practical utility. The project involves: (1) design and synthesis of a series of CP systems incorporating reactive sites, which are converted into higher-energy upon reacting with target analyte; (2) photophysical studies (including time-resolved spectroscopies) and synthetic manipulations to evaluate the nature of the higher energy gap control; (3) design of practical chemosensory systems which utilize this control principle to as a natural counterpart to the traditional amplification schemes based on energy migration in CPs. In addition to direct practical benefits of the advanced sensing systems to the national security and environmental monitoring, the broader impacts of this work include benefits to the society from multidisciplinary training of graduate and undergraduate students in STEM disciplines, from public awareness and appreciation of modern science and technology, and from increased interest in science in younger generations.