UV-Vis-NIR Spectrophotometer for Materials Characterization

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The purpose of this grant is to provide four researchers of the Department of Chemistry at Université Laval involved in the synthesis and characterization of organic semiconductors with a UV-visible-NIR spectrophotometer. There is an URGENT need to obtain such instrument as the only one available in the Department of Chemistry died a year and a half ago. Thus, the four applicants and their graduate students and postdoc do not have access to this simple, routine instrument for the basic characterization of their molecules and materials. This instrument is very relevant for them since it allows the characterization of the optical properties of different pi-conjugated molecules and polymers, including the determination of optical density, optical bandgap and, to some extent, the conformation of the molecules being studied. Molecules and materials prepared by the two faculties' research groups are conjugated oligomers and polymers, nanographenes, graphene nanoribbons, carbon nanotubes and open-shell (diradical). These molecules absorb light from the UV (200 nm) to the NIR infrared (3000 nm for open-shell molecules) and an instrument covering this whole range is necessary. Moreover, the requested instrument allows analysis in both solution and solid state on different substrates and at different temperatures. The instrument will also be used for kinetic studies to evaluate catalysts for C-H activation as well as for the determination of trace elements in soil. This UV-visible-NIR spectrophotometer will support the state-of-the-art and innovative research programs of more than 40 scientists (students, PDF and research associates) involved in various areas of chemistry, including materials, catalysis and analytical. Obviously, this instrument will also be made available to all others graduate students and postdocs of the Department of Chemistry (150 researchers). The absence of such instrument in our department forces the research groups to send their samples to other facilities around the country, impeding tremendously the progression of many projects and resulting in unnecessary time and money lost. There is no spectrophotometer covering the range of wavelength needed in the Department of Chemistry of Université Laval. Having this instrument is also very important for the training of HQP and for their future career in materials-related areas.