Hybrid metal-containing conjugated materials

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The growing worldwide demand for alternative energy sources and storage requires the development of new technologies capable of addressing this demand. Environmental concerns have created a demand for new chemical sensors capable of instantaneous detection of toxic gases and pollutants. Smaller, thinner, lighter and less power-hungry electronic devices are needed to continue to advance communication and display technologies. The development of new functional materials to address these needs is the focus of this research program. Materials for emerging sensor, energy harvesting and storage, and molecular device technologies will be developed. Long term objectives of the program are to discover and apply materials which have new and improved properties, by combining the optoelectronic behavior of conjugated molecules and polymers (molecular wires) with the chemical, optical and electronic properties of metal complexes and other inorganic materials. Environmental sensors, solar cells, molecular switches, and gas storage are targeted as applications for these new materials. The specific goals of this proposed research program include: (a) development of new metal-containing conjugated materials for application in solar energy harvesting; (b) preparation of new metal-based molecular sensors, and evaluation of their response to chemical analytes and (c) preparation of new nanomaterials and metal-organic frameworks which incorporate conjugated polymers and oligomers. Properties of the newly discovered materials will be evaluated, and promising candidates incorporated into prototype devices to determine their viability for applications. This program will train students and postdoctoral fellows in modern interdisciplinary materials chemistry, preparing them for careers in academia and industry.