RII Track-4: Synthesis, Characterization and Applications of FRET based Ionic Materials

非技术描述：福斯特共振能量转移（FRET）现象是一种众所周知的能量转移过程，广泛应用于能源（光电子、太阳能电池）、健康（光动力疗法、生物成像）和环境（传感器）应用的竞技场。因此，已经针对这些应用设计了几种类型的基于FRET的分子。然而，它们中的一些是有毒的，与环境不相容的，并且可能需要繁琐的多步，昂贵的和耗时的合成方案。该项目的重点是开发新型的，环保的，基于FRET的有机离子材料（IM），使用简单，快速和廉价的方法用于光电应用。先进的电化学、光学和器件制造技术将在格鲁吉亚理工学院（GIT）用于确定新型IM的全部潜力。这个奖学金允许PI探索其他IM应用程序，并扩大她的研究活动的范围。在GIT的长期停留将提供GIT先进技术的广泛接触和实践经验，并发展长期合作，这将大大加强阿肯色州（UA）小石城大学的研究活动。本次培训将提供一个机会，建立一个杰出的和第一次的同类研究小组在美国大学小石城和阿肯色州。技术描述：本研究集成了高度可调FRET基有机离子材料（IMs）及其薄膜的合成，表征，优化和器件工程。提出了一种新颖且廉价的方法来开发具有FRET特征的单个有机分子。利用离子液体化学来开发具有高产物产率和沿着的纯度以及有前景的FRET效率的材料。与共价分子相比，IM提供了巨大的益处，并且允许光动力学、疏水性、热稳定性和光稳定性特征的简单可调性。与现有材料相比，IM具有明显的优势，非常适合解决光电子领域持续存在的效率和稳定性挑战。高热稳定性的FRET基有机离子注入材料在提高光电器件效率方面具有巨大的潜力。了解这些新材料的详细光动力学对于探索其多种应用的全部潜力非常重要。将利用GIT的先进设备来了解IM及其薄膜的基本电化学和物理特性。最后，光电器件将被制造，优化，并研究其效率。GIT设施对于实现拟议研究的总体目标至关重要。该奖学金为材料科学家提供了与经验丰富的光电科学家/工程师合作的独特机会。这项合作将为设计光电器件引入经济和高度可调的材料。与GIT建立长期合作将加强K-12，本科生，研究生和教师在国内研究所的研究活动。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并已被认为是值得通过使用基金会的智力价值和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估的支持。

Non-technical Description:Forster Resonance Energy Transfer (FRET) phenomenon, a well-known energy transfer process, is widely used in the arena of energy (optoelectronics, solar cells), health (photodynamic therapy, bioimaging), and environmental (sensors) applications. Therefore, several types of FRET-based molecules have been designed for these applications. However, some of them are toxic, incompatible with environment, and might require tedious multistep, expensive, and time-consuming syntheses protocols. This project focuses to develop novel, environmentally friendly, FRET-based, organic ionic materials (IMs) using simple, rapid and inexpensive methods for optoelectronic applications. Advanced electrochemical, optical and device fabrication techniques will be used at Georgia Institute of Technology (GIT) to determine the full potential of novel IMs. This fellowship allows PI to explore other IM applications and broaden the scope of her research activities. An extended stay at GIT would provide extensive exposure and hands-on experience of advanced technologies available at GIT, and develop long-term collaborations that will greatly strengthen the research activities at University of Arkansas (UA) Little Rock. This training will provide an opportunity to establish an outstanding and first-of-its-kind research group at UA Little Rock and the state of Arkansas.Technical Description:This study integrates synthesis, characterization, optimization and device engineering of highly tunable FRET-based organic ionic materials (IMs) and their thin films. A novel and inexpensive approach is presented to develop a single organic molecule exhibiting FRET characteristics. Ionic liquid chemistry is exploited to develop a material with high product yield and purity along with promising FRET efficiency. IMs offer great benefits and allow simple tunability of photodynamics, hydrophobicity, thermal- and photo- stability characteristics as compared to covalent molecules. IMs have distinct advantages over the existing materials and are highly suitable to solve the ongoing efficiency and stability challenges in the field of optoelectronics. Highly thermal stable FRET-based organic IMs exhibit tremendous potential to enhance the efficiency of the optoelectronic devices. It is highly important to understand the detailed photodynamics of these novel materials to explore their full potential for multiple applications. Advanced equipment available at GIT will be utilized to understand fundamental electrochemical and photophysical properties of IMs and their thin films. Finally, optoelectronic devices will be fabricated, optimized, and investigated for their efficiency. GIT facilities are essential to accomplish the overall objectives of the proposed research. This fellowship provides a unique opportunity for materials scientists to work with experienced optoelectronic scientists/engineers. This collaboration will introduce economical and highly tunable materials for designing optoelectronic devices. Establishing a long-term collaboration with GIT will strengthen k-12, undergraduate student, graduate student, and faculty research activities at home institute.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.