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Single-molecule studies of light-emitting polymers: observing and manipulating polymer conformation in solution

发光聚合物的单分子研究：观察和操纵溶液中的聚合物构象

基本信息

批准号：
EP/N009886/1
负责人：
Carlos Penedo
金额：
$ 50.69万
依托单位：
University of St Andrews
依托单位国家：
英国
项目类别：
Research Grant
财政年份：
2016
资助国家：
英国
起止时间：
2016 至无数据
项目状态：
已结题

来源：
https://gtr.ukri.org/projects?ref=EP%2FN009886%2F1
关键词：
Single molecule studies light emitting

项目摘要

A remarkable advance in modern science is the ability to detect the light emitted by single molecules. This achievement - the demonstration of the ultimate detection limit - lies at the heart of a new era of microscopy that is transforming our understanding of biological processes. The ability to pinpoint the exact location of a single dye molecule, quantify fluctuations in the emission of individual molecules or the possibility of stretching at will a single biopolymer are providing knowledge that before it was only possible to dream of. Whilst these techniques will continue to revolutionize biology, we now propose to apply them to give breakthroughs in materials science. The first aim of this proposal is to develop a toolbox of single-molecule techniques that offer for the first time the opportunity of observing and manipulating materials as depicted in the textbooks: molecule by molecule. We will use these techniques to make a pioneering breakthrough in linking the conformation of conjugated polymers in solution to their light-emitting properties. Understanding this relationship is crucial because a key advantage of these materials is that they can be processed into optoelectronic devices using simple deposition methods from solution. Conjugated polymers are very promising for organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays as well as solar cells and transistors. The display of information - on mobile phones, televisions and monitors is very important for work, communication, entertainment and learning. Advances in display technology have been dramatic and some of the most attractive are OLEDs. To meet the growing technological opportunities, it is crucial to develop a deeper understanding of how the properties of conjugated polymers relate to their conformation. The conformation is the shape of the polymer and it has a huge effect on the optical properties but it is very difficult to study because every polymer chain has a different shape. We will overcome this problem by measuring single polymers in solution, and by developing techniques to mechanically manipulate the conformation of the polymer to identify how changes in shape alter its light emission properties. This is a pioneering area because single-molecule methods for non-aqueous environments are still in their infancy and our work will allow us to understand how the solvent affects polymer conformation and light emission with an unprecedented level of detail.Our second goal involves the novel concept in materials sciences of manipulating the polymer backbone using mechanical force whilst simultaneously monitoring its fluorescence properties. We will apply manipulation techniques to conjugated polymers for the first time. Stretching the polymer in a controlled manner will reveal the optical signature of different conformations (i.e. linear versus collapsed) enabling the emission properties to be related to the underlying shape of each individual polymer chain - information not available by any other technique. To achieve these goals, we have put together a team of leading scientists in key areas through a collaboration between St Andrews (polymer physics & single-molecule) and Strathclyde and UCSB to assist with the synthesis of novel orthogonally functionalized conjugated polymers. The proposal also benefits from a partnership with Cambridge Display Technology Limited (CDT, UK), the leading company in polymer LED technology, that will help us to efficiently translate our findings into technological advances. Our project partners at the University of Leipzig will assist with the integration of mechanical manipulation into our single-molecule fluorescence microscopes. Our results will not only advance the field of polymer LEDs, but also other polymer optoelectronic areas such as lasers and solar cells, and the wider fields of polymer and materials science.

现代科学的一个显著进步是能够探测单个分子发出的光。这一成就-最终检测极限的证明-是显微镜新时代的核心，它正在改变我们对生物过程的理解。能够精确定位单个染料分子的确切位置，量化单个分子发射的波动或随意拉伸单个生物聚合物的可能性，这些都提供了以前只能梦想的知识。虽然这些技术将继续彻底改变生物学，但我们现在建议将它们应用于材料科学的突破。该提案的第一个目标是开发一个单分子技术工具箱，首次提供观察和操纵教科书中描述的材料的机会：分子分子。我们将利用这些技术在将溶液中共轭聚合物的构象与其发光特性联系起来方面取得开创性的突破。理解这种关系至关重要，因为这些材料的一个关键优势是它们可以使用简单的沉积方法从溶液中加工成光电器件。共轭聚合物在有机电致发光显示器、太阳能电池和晶体管等领域具有广阔的应用前景。信息的显示-在移动的电话、电视和显示器上对于工作、通信、娱乐和学习非常重要。显示技术的进步是巨大的，其中最有吸引力的是OLED。为了满足日益增长的技术机会，这是至关重要的，以发展一个更深入的了解共轭聚合物的性质如何与它们的构象。构象是聚合物的形状，它对光学性质有很大的影响，但研究起来非常困难，因为每个聚合物链都有不同的形状。我们将通过测量溶液中的单一聚合物来克服这个问题，并通过开发技术来机械操纵聚合物的构象，以确定形状的变化如何改变其发光特性。这是一个开拓性的领域，因为非水环境的单分子方法仍处于起步阶段，我们的工作将使我们能够了解溶剂如何影响聚合物的构象和光发射与前所未有的细节水平。我们的第二个目标涉及材料科学中的新概念，即利用机械力操纵聚合物主链，同时监测其荧光特性。我们将首次将操纵技术应用于共轭聚合物。以受控方式拉伸聚合物将揭示不同构象的光学特征（即线性与塌陷），使得发射特性与每个单独聚合物链的基本形状相关-通过任何其他技术无法获得的信息。为了实现这些目标，我们通过St Andrews（聚合物物理和单分子）与Strathclyde和UCSB之间的合作，组建了一个由关键领域的顶尖科学家组成的团队，以协助合成新型正交官能化共轭聚合物。该提案还受益于与聚合物LED技术领先公司剑桥显示技术有限公司（CDT，英国）的合作，这将有助于我们有效地将我们的发现转化为技术进步。我们在莱比锡大学的项目合作伙伴将协助将机械操作集成到我们的单分子荧光显微镜中。我们的研究成果不仅将推动聚合物LED领域的发展，还将推动其他聚合物光电领域，如激光器和太阳能电池，以及更广泛的聚合物和材料科学领域的发展。