CAREER: Ultrathin Films of Molecularly Assembled Oligothiophenes - An Integrated Approach to Research and Education in Organic Solid State Materials

9982010 advincula该项目的总体目标是将分子组装有机超薄膜材料的研究与未来材料科学家的培训结合起来：1)有机合成，2)薄膜制造，3)表面分析，4)器件应用方法。研究目标是开发适合“湿加工”和作为固态材料应用的分子组织的电和光学活性寡硫吩（共轭）超薄膜。这与目前涉及真空蒸发和溶液结晶技术的方法形成对比。新的低聚物结构、远旋低聚物和含有低聚噻吩衍生物的“前驱体”聚合物（少于5-6个单位）将被合成。超薄膜将使用分子和超分子组装技术在各种固体支撑基底上形成多层。取向、聚集、层序和形态控制在薄膜制作过程中是必不可少的。这将通过结合表面敏感光谱和微观分析方法进行分析。通过确定结构-性能相关性，目的是“定制”几种固态材料应用的首选顺序。有序超薄膜系统上的电聚合和掺杂技术将用于诱导耦合反应和电导率，用于各种电气和光学器件的应用。最终的目标是为发现新的有机超薄膜材料建立一个研究方案，并为新型材料科学家的研究和培训架起桥梁。手持设备、便携式计算机、显示器、传感器和小型化组件的指数级增长，需要新的材料和工艺来实现快速原型和制造，甚至接近纳米级。因此，有必要在加工过程中通过合理设计聚合物材料来指导超薄膜中的分子组织。该研究项目将这些方面结合起来，同时注重培养新型材料科学家，能够在开发有机固态材料方面进行平行思考和技能进步。虽然可以发现新的材料和方法，但对社会最重要的贡献是通过持续的方法培养新的科学家和技术人员。为了应对这一挑战，提出了一系列教育举措，其中包括高中学生和教师指导（K-12），以及研究生的参与。还提出了参加国内外跨学科机构和项目的机会。

9982010AdvinculaThe overall goal of the program is to integrate research on molecularly assembled organic ultrathin film materials with training of future materials scientists on a combined 1) organic synthesis, 2) film fabrication, 3) surface analysis, and 4) device application approach. The research goal is to develop molecularly organized electro-and optically-active oligothiophene (conjugated) ultrathin films suitable for "wet processing" and applications as solid state materials. This is in contrast to current methods involving vacuum evaporation and solution crystallization techniques. New oligomer structures, telechelic oligomers, and "precursor" polymers with oligothiophene derivatives ( than 5-6 units) will be synthesized. The ultrathin films will be fabricated using molecular and supramolecular assembly techniques to form multilayers on various solid-support substrates. Orientation, aggregation, layer ordering and morphological control is essential during film fabrication. This will be analyzed by combining surface sensitive spectroscopic and microscopic analysis methods. By determining structure-property correlations, the intention is to "tailor" the preferred order towards several solid state materials applications. Electropolymerization and doping techniques on well ordered ultrathin film systems would be used to induce coupling reactions and conductivity for incorporation in various electrical and optical device applications. Ultimately, the goal is to establish a research protocol for discovery of new organic ultrathin film materials and bridge research and training for a new breed of materials scientists.The exponential growth in handheld devices, portable computers, displays, sensors, miniaturized components, requires new materials and processes that allow rapid prototyping and manufacturing even approaching that of the nanoscale. Thus, there is a need to direct molecular organization in ultrathin films during processing with a rational design of polymer materials. This research program combines these aspects and at the same time focuses on training new breed of materials scientists, capable of parallel thinking and skills progression for developing organic solid state materials. While new materials and methodologies can be discovered, the most important contribution to society is through a sustained approach in educating new scientists and technologists. To meet this challenge, a number of education initiatives are proposed which includes high school students and teacher mentoring (K-12), combined with graduate students participation. Opportunities for participation in interdisciplinary institutions and projects both here and abroad are also proposed.