Tailoring Functional organic materials through supramolecular chemistry

通过超分子化学定制功能有机材料

• 批准号: RGPIN-2016-06069
• 负责人: Williams, Vance
• 金额: $ 1.82万
• 依托单位: Simon Fraser University
• 依托单位国家: 加拿大
• 项目类别: Discovery Grants Program - Individual
• 财政年份: 2016
• 资助国家: 加拿大
• 起止时间: 2016-01-01 至 2017-12-31
• 项目状态: 已结题
• 来源: https://www.nserc-crsng.gc.ca/ase-oro/Details-Detailles_eng.asp?id=616085
• 关键词: Tailoring; Functional; organic; materials; through

Our research encompasses the design, synthesis and study of functional organic materials. These efforts can be broadly categorized into two major avenues of inquiry: (a) determining how molecular structure relates to the self-assembly of ordered materials, and (b) the design of new materials whose properties can be altered using external stimuli such as light. An overarching goal of our research is to establish general methods whereby supramolecular interactions can be rationally exploited in the creation of new materials. To this end, we strive to understand how molecules interact with each other and how these interactions can be manipulated using light. Our first broad research theme focuses on the formation of columnar liquid crystal phases by disc-shaped molecules. These phases have been widely targeted as organic semiconducting materials for LEDs, photovoltaics and field effect transistors. Much of their promise stems from their high charge carrier mobilities, their ease of alignment and their ability to self-heal. Our aim is to elucidate the rules that govern the formation of these liquid crystals. We developed a highly modular synthetic approach that facilitates the preparation of families of disc-shaped targets, which allowed us to probe the effects of functional groups, size, and symmetry on phase behavior. Whereas our previous efforts focused on isolating these effects, future studies will tackle the more challenging problem of unraveling how different structural features can either work with or against each other during self-assembly. Understanding this subtle interplay is critical for designing multifunctional materials. We will also examine what happens when the molecular building blocks are flexible rather than rigid. Discotic dimers, composed disc-shaped groups linked by a flexible spacer, can adopt a wide variety of conformations, making it difficult to predict how they will self-assemble. By studying their conformational dynamics in solution, we hope to gain insights into their ability to organize into liquid crystalline materials. Ultimately, these flexible molecules will open new avenues towards creating highly structured materials at the nanoscale. Another major research theme is the use of anthracene photochromism in the design of new materials. We have recently created an efficient photoswitch based on two anthracene groups linked by a flexible spacer; this molecule can be reversibly switched between an open and closed form using different wavelengths of light. In our future studies, we will prepare analogs of this system in order to better understand its photochemical properties, which will also facilitate the creation of new derivatives with improved performance. We will also examine how the large changes in shape and rigidity that accompany this photoswitching can be exploited in the design of photoresponsive materials.

我们的研究包括功能有机材料的设计，合成和研究。这些努力可以大致分为两个主要的调查途径：（a）确定分子结构如何与有序材料的自组装有关，以及（B）设计新材料，其性质可以通过外部刺激（如光）来改变。我们研究的首要目标是建立通用方法，从而可以合理地利用超分子相互作用来创造新材料。为此，我们努力了解分子如何相互作用，以及如何使用光来操纵这些相互作用。 我们的第一个广泛的研究主题集中在柱状液晶相的形成盘形分子。这些相已被广泛地用作LED、光致发光器件和场效应晶体管的有机半导体材料。它们的大部分希望源于它们的高电荷载流子迁移率，它们的容易对准和它们的自我修复能力。我们的目的是阐明这些液晶形成的规律。我们开发了一种高度模块化的合成方法，有利于家庭的盘形目标的准备，这使我们能够探测官能团，大小和对称性对相行为的影响。虽然我们以前的努力集中在隔离这些影响，但未来的研究将解决更具挑战性的问题，即揭示不同的结构特征在自组装过程中如何相互作用或相互作用。理解这种微妙的相互作用对于设计多功能材料至关重要。 我们还将研究当分子构建块是柔性的而不是刚性的时会发生什么。分散二聚体，由一个灵活的间隔连接的盘状基团组成，可以采用各种各样的构象，使得很难预测它们将如何自组装。通过研究它们在溶液中的构象动力学，我们希望能够深入了解它们组织成液晶材料的能力。最终，这些灵活的分子将为在纳米尺度上创造高度结构化的材料开辟新的途径。 另一个主要的研究主题是在新材料的设计中使用蒽光致变色。我们最近创建了一种高效的光开关，其基于通过柔性间隔基连接的两个蒽基团;该分子可以使用不同波长的光在开放和闭合形式之间可逆地切换。在我们未来的研究中，我们将制备该系统的类似物，以更好地了解其光化学性质，这也将有助于创造具有改进性能的新衍生物。我们还将研究如何在形状和刚性的大变化，伴随着这种光开关可以利用在光敏材料的设计。