Synthesis, Properties and Applications of Conjugated Oligomer Based Materials

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Organic and inorganic materials are central to the function of new generations of optical and electronic devices that will play a role in future technologies. Solar cells rely on materials that absorb light and efficiently convert it to electricity, and displays for smart phones and laptops need materials that emit bright light efficiently. Conjugated materials are a class of organic polymers and oligomers that can be used for these applications and others. The properties of these materials can be enhanced by systematic modifications to the chemical structure, by appending groups which interact with the conjugated backbone in specific ways. This proposal explores the preparation of several new classes of modified conjugated materials, understanding the way they interact with light, and how they can be applied in solar cells, light emitting devices as well as in other applications. Specifically, materials in which conjugated units are linked with sulfur-containing groups will be studied. These new materials are anticipated to be useful in solar cells and light-emitting devices, as well as play a role in the development of printed security features for passports and currency. A second area of investigation will be the development of switchable conjugated materials, where the optoelectronic properties can be controlled by an external stimulus such as light, solvent or temperature. Conjugated materials in which the backbone contains both electron donor (Lewis basic) and electron acceptor (Lewis acidic) groups will be made and studied. The color and electronic properties of these compounds depends on how the two groups interact with each other, and possible applications in photoswitchable catalysts as well as cellular imaging will be explored. The fundamental knowledge that will be attained from this proposal will be used to further our understanding of these important materials and open new opportunities for exploiting their properties in a range of applications. The training of new scientists in this area of materials science and chemistry is an important outcome from the proposed program.