Sequence-Specific Placement of Defects in Pi-Conjugated Semiconducting Polymers

非技术性总结：本提案中正在研究的材料类别“π共轭半导体聚合物”是电子聚合物，具有解决能源使用、收集和存储等需求的潜力。具体地，聚合物在有机发光二极管（OLED）、有机光致发光器件（OPV）、生物电子学、传感器和电子皮肤中具有应用。然而，要使这些聚合物用于广泛的电子应用，重要的是要了解长聚合物分子链如何在材料的固态下折叠，以及这种折叠如何影响其电子特性。为此，PI和她在华盛顿大学的团队将开发，合成和研究一类新的π共轭半导体聚合物，这些聚合物可以在聚合物链的特定位置沿着折叠，并建立影响这些聚合物光电性能的新方法。该项目的相关性，一些应用程序为我们提供了一个机会，沟通科学和工程的重要性，以社会。具体而言，将与太平洋科学中心（西雅图的科学博物馆）合作创建一个关于聚合物的展览。此外，PI将与华盛顿大学的清洁能源多样性（DICE）小组合作，支持STEM领域的妇女和代表性不足的少数民族。 技术概要：在π-共轭半导体聚合物领域内，越来越多的人认识到，诸如均偶联和端基的缺陷会不利地影响这些聚合物的性质，从而影响这些聚合物在实际应用中的性能。然而，不清楚的是为什么这些缺陷会以这种方式影响性能。在这项提案中，PI和她的团队旨在阐明点缺陷如何影响微观结构，从而影响其性能。该研究涉及以下内容：（i）合成具有精确间隔缺陷的π共轭半导体均聚物;（ii）评估缺陷的大小和间距如何影响均聚物的微结构;以及（iii）将部分（i）和（ii）中建立的设计规则扩展到交替共聚物。该研究旨在提供设计具有前所未有的控制水平的π共轭半导体聚合物的微结构的方法，而不是像通常那样仅依赖于优化方法。

NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARY: The materials class, "pi-conjugated semiconducting polymers", that are being studied in this proposal are electronic polymers that have the potential to address needs ranging from energy usage, harvesting, and storage. Specifically, the polymers have applications in organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), organic photovoltaics (OPVs), bioelectronics, sensors, and electronic skin. However, for these polymers to be used in a wide range of electronic applications, it is important to understand how the long polymer molecular chains fold in the solid state of the material and how this folding affects its electronic properties. To this end, the PI and her group at the University of Washington will develop, synthesize, and study a new class of pi-conjugated semiconducting polymers that can fold at specific locations along a polymer chain, and establish new ways to affect the optoelectronic properties of these polymers. The relevance of the project to a number of applications provides us with an opportunity to communicate the importance of science and engineering to the community. Specifically, an exhibition about polymers will be created in collaboration with the Pacific Science Center (a science museum in Seattle). Additionally, the PI will work with a group known as Diversity in Clean Energy (DICE) at the University of Washington to support women and underrepresented minorities in STEM fields. TECHNICAL SUMMARY: Within the field of pi-conjugated semiconducting polymers, there is a growing realization that defects such as homocoupling and end-groups can adversely affect the properties and thus the performance of these polymers in actual applications. However, what is not clearly understood is why these defects affect the properties in the way that they do. In this proposal, the PI and her group aim to shed light on how point defects can affect microstructure and thus their properties. The research entails the following: (i) synthesizing pi-conjugated semiconducting homopolymers with precisely spaced defects; (ii) assessing how the size of and spacing between defects affect the microstructure of the homopolymers; and (iii) expanding the design rules established in parts (i) and (ii) to alternating copolymers. The research is envisioned to provide means to design the microstructure of pi-conjugated semiconducting polymers with an unprecedented level of control instead of relying only on optimization methods as is typically done.