Synthesis and Properties of Regioregular Conjugated Ladder Polymers

第1部分：非技术性聚合具有梯形、双链和带状分子链结构的聚合物称为梯形聚合物。自1966年以来，它们一直是科学探索的对象，因为与非梯形材料相比，它们被预测具有更好的耐热性、机械、电气、光学和其他物理特性。然而，由于制造困难，这种理想的梯形聚合物一直是未实现的材料。该项目旨在开发一种新的化学方法来制备各种梯形聚合物。该项目还将调查新材料的结构和物理性质。由此产生的新型梯形聚合物将能够测试对其性能的长期预测。新材料还可以在电子、生物传感器和可穿戴设备、航空航天结构、3D打印、电能存储(电池和超级电容器)和光伏设备等领域找到应用。该研究项目还将促进研究生和本科生的教育，包括女性和未被充分代表的少数民族，在新兴的科学和工程领域。第2部分：技术概述：共轭梯形聚合物由于其带状拓扑结构，预计将比非梯形聚合物具有更优越的结构和物理性能。然而，这些材料在很大程度上仍然是一个梦想，因为直接制造它们的挑战仍然没有解决。这项研究项目旨在通过探索一种新的方法来应对这一科学挑战。该项目的总体目标是开发新的化学合成各种定义明确的、可溶的、区域规则的共轭梯形聚合物，并研究它们的性质。具体地说，PI和他的团队将：(1)设计和合成适合于制备区域规则的共轭梯形聚合物的新型多功能单体；(2)开发一步法合成共轭梯形聚合物的聚合方法；(3)研究区域规整性对共轭梯形聚合物的结构、形态和物理性能的影响；以及(4)研究新型共轭梯形聚合物的形态、电荷传输和光物理。这一奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

PART 1: NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARYPolymers that have a ladder-like, double-stranded, and ribbon-like molecular chain architecture are termed ladder polymers. They have been the object of scientific quest since 1966 because they are predicted to have far superior heat resistance, mechanical, electrical, optical and other physical properties, compared to their non-ladder counterparts. However, such ideal ladder polymers have remained unrealized materials because of the difficulty of making them. This project aims to develop a novel chemistry for making various ladder polymers. The project will also investigate the structural and physical properties of the new materials. The resulting new ladder polymers will enable testing of longstanding predictions of their properties. The new materials could also find applications in areas such as electronics, biosensors and wearable devices, aerospace structures, 3D printing, electrical energy storage (batteries and supercapacitors), and photovoltaic devices. The research project will also facilitate education of graduate and undergraduate students, including women and underrepresented minorities, in emerging science and engineering fields.PART 2: TECHNICAL SUMMARY Conjugated ladder polymers are predicted to have far superior structural and physical properties, compared to their non-ladder counterparts, due to their ribbon-like topology. However, these materials have largely remained a dream because the challenge of making them directly has remained unsolved. This research project aims to tackle this scientific challenge by exploring a novel approach. The overall goal of the project is to develop new chemistry for the synthesis of diverse well-defined, soluble, regioregular conjugated ladder polymers and investigate their properties. Specifically, the PI and his group will: (1) design and synthesize new multifunctional monomers suitable for making the regioregular conjugated ladder polymers; (2) develop polymerization methods for the one-step synthesis of the conjugated ladder polymers; (3) investigate the effects of regioregularity on the structure, morphology and physical properties of conjugated ladder polymers; and (4) investigate the morphology, charge transport and photophysics of the new conjugated ladder polymers. .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.