Harnessing molecular assembly phenomena in multidimensional printed organic functional materials

我们的研究计划旨在利用与多维打印有机功能材料中发挥作用的分子原理相关的物理化学知识，以促进3D打印对象的开发，这些对象具有与许多应用相关的内置、本地化功能，包括能量转换。*添加剂制造，也被称为三维(3D)打印，正在彻底改变材料的设计和生产方式。例如，3D打印能够以复杂的几何形式生成按需定制的对象，而不需要昂贵的工具或多步骤过程。然而，这种民主化程度尚未转化为需要执行特定功能的3D打印对象的制造，如传感、光电和能量转换。目前，还没有能够同时打印对象形式和功能的技术。*在这种情况下，我们研究的长期目标旨在通过利用分子组装现象来促进3D打印材料的本地化内置功能来应对这一挑战，绕过3D打印设备的限制，而是开发和利用化学组装概念。*尽管上述功能产生于由功能材料的分子结构决定的性质，而功能材料本身受材料加工的影响，但3D打印有机功能材料，更具体地说，在有机半导体(OSC)化合物中，结构-性质-功能关系在很大程度上仍未被探索。*因此，我们建议研究多组分OSC材料3D打印中涉及的结构-加工-性质-功能关系，目的如下：1)阐明有助于制备定向(长程有序)3D打印OSC材料的机制；2)了解3D打印过程中原位形成OSC纳米结构的原理；以及3)揭示3D打印材料中OSC组分定位的新策略。*利用这一基本的物理化学知识将帮助我们了解、控制和预测分子组装的组织，从而促进具有前所未有的内置电荷传输特性和局部能量转换功能的OSC材料的3D打印。我们研究项目的预期成果将有助于充分释放3D打印有机功能材料的颠覆性创新潜力，并在能源和制造领域培育新的机会，使加拿大成为这些领域公认的领导者。最后，我们的计划将培养高素质的科学家，在材料化学方面拥有独特的多学科技能，这些技能可以被用于满足研究、工业和政府需求的创新职业。

Our research program aims to harness physicochemical knowledge related to the molecular principles at play in multidimensional printed organic functional materials to facilitate the development of 3D printed objects with built-in, localized functionalities relevant for numerous applications, including energy conversion. *** Additive manufacturing, also referred to as three-dimensional (3D) printing, is revolutionizing the way materials are designed and produced. For instance, 3D printing is capable of generating on-demand and customized objects in complex geometrical form without requiring expensive tools or multi-step processes. However, this level of democratization has not been translated yet to the fabrication of 3D printed objects that require to perform specific functionality, such as sensing, optoelectronic and energy conversion. Currently, there is no technique capable to print the object form and function all at once. *** In this context, the long-term goal of our research aims to address this challenge by harnessing molecular assembly phenomena to facilitate localized built-in functionalities in 3D printed materials, bypassing the 3D printing equipment limitations, and rather develop and exploit chemical assembly concepts. *** Although the aforementioned functionalities emerge from a property that is dictated by the molecular organization of a functional material, which is itself influenced by the material's processing, the structure-property-function relationships in 3D printed organic functional materials, and more specifically in organic semiconducting (OSC) compounds, remain largely unexplored. *** Hence, we propose to investigate structure-processing-property-function relationships involved in the 3D printing of multicomponent OSC materials, with the following objectives: 1) Elucidating the mechanisms contributing to the preparation of aligned (long-range ordered) 3D printed OSC materials; 2) Understanding the principles governing the in situ formation of OSC nanostructures during 3D printing; and 3) Uncovering novel strategies for the localization of OSC components in 3D printed materials. *** Harnessing this fundamental physicochemical knowledge will help us to understand, control and predict the organization of molecular assemblies in ways that facilitate 3D printing of OSC materials with unprecedented built-in charge transport properties and localized energy conversion functionalities. The expected outcomes of our research program will contribute to unleash the full disruptive innovation potential of 3D printed organic functional materials, in addition to foster new opportunities in energy and manufacturing, contributing to make Canada a recognized leader in these fields. Finally, our program will train highly qualified scientists with a unique multidisciplinary skillset in chemistry of materials, which can be leveraged towards innovative careers meeting the needs in research, industry and government.