Measuring Microscopic Charge Exchange in Heterogeneous Organic Thin Films

该奖项由化学系化学结构、动力学和机制（CSDM-A）项目资助，明尼苏达大学的Aaron Massari教授和他的研究生和本科生同事正在研究微观非均质性影响分子电子材料物理性质的方式。马萨里教授的研究使用复杂的光谱技术来测量材料在电力驱动下的分子动力学。这类研究的最终目标是开发更好的电子材料。在马萨里小组工作的学生接受超快激光技术和尖端光谱和光学方法的培训。马萨里小组还通过明尼苏达大学西南地区推广中心的草原大学项目，与来自明尼苏达州偏远农村地区的大量学生和教师开展教育推广旅行，进行动手化学活动。Aaron Massari和他的研究小组进行了一系列实验，以探索分子电子材料的分子尺度异质性对性能的影响。具体来说，马萨里和他的团队使用二维红外光谱来探测具有可变异质性的材料中的短程电荷交换。要研究的特定分子体系包括一些钌基染料（N3， Z907等）以及一些碘掺杂的吲哚基染料（D102， D149等）。其他实验使用有机p掺杂剂。实验与MD模拟相结合，以帮助建模/分析。本研究的具体目标包括：(1)测量和模拟分子薄膜中载流子的点对点交换；(2)确定两种染料体系中分子聚集对电荷传输的作用；(3)研究p型掺杂剂性质对电荷传输现象的影响。马萨里的研究小组包括一个不同的本科生群体积极参与研究，包括来自科学领域代表性不足的群体的学生。

In this award, funded by the Chemical Structure, Dynamics and Mechanisms (CSDM-A) Program of the Division of Chemistry, Professor Aaron Massari of the University of Minnesota and his graduate and undergraduate student colleagues are investigating the ways that microscopic heterogeneity influence the physical properties in molecular electronic materials. Prof. Massari's research uses sophisticated spectroscopic techniques to measure the molecular dynamics in materials while they are being electrically driven. The ultimate goal of research like this is to develop better electronic materials. Students working in the Massari group receive training in ultrafast laser techniques and in cutting-edge spectroscopic and optical methods. The Massari group also conducts educational outreach trips to do hands-on chemistry activities with large numbers of students and teachers from rural, geographically-isolated parts of Minnesota, through the University of the Prairie program at the University of Minnesota Southwest Regional Outreach Center.Prof. Aaron Massari and his research group conduct a series of experiments to probe the ways in which molecular-scale heterogeneity in molecular electronic materials impacts performance. Specifically, Massari and his group use two-dimensional infrared spectroscopy to probe short-range charge exchange in materials with variable amounts of heterogeneity. Specific molecular systems to be studied include a number of ruthenium-based dyes (N3, Z907, etc.) as well as some indoline-based dyes (D102, D149, etc.) p-doped with iodine. Additional experiments use organic p-dopants. Experiments are combined with MD simulations to help with the modeling/analysis. The specific goals of the research include: (1) measuring and modeling the site-to-site carrier exchange in thin molecular films; (2) identifying the role of molecular aggregation on charge transport in both dye systems, and (3) investigating the influence of the nature of p-type dopants on the charge transport phenomenon. The Massari research group includes active involvement by a diverse group of undergraduates in research, including students from groups underrepresented in the sciences.