GOALI: Quantum Amplified Isomerization: A New Strategy for Polymeric Optical Materials

该GOALI奖由材料研究部和数学物理科学理事会多学科活动办公室共同资助，涉及罗切斯特大学和伊士曼柯达公司之间的合作。 基于量子放大异构化（QAI）过程描述了一种新的光响应聚合物概念。 QAI材料被定义为在吸收光时经历电子转移引发的离子自由基链异构化反应的聚合物。 QAI材料具有克服与现有光响应聚合物相关的许多已知问题的潜力，同时仍保留其主要优点。 具体而言，QAI材料被设计为在吸收每个光子时产生许多化学转变，几乎没有或没有伴随的尺寸变化。 本提案的主要研究目标是：（1）获得对构成QAI过程基础的基本离子自由基链反应化学的预测性理解，（2）测试有效启动QAI过程的敏化策略，（3）使用（1）和（2）的见解设计和合成官能化QAI聚合物，以及（3）表征新型QAI材料的关键光学性质。这项合作涉及光化学和通信光学材料领域，并涉及许多教育经验，包括学生的现场工业研究以及学术界和工业界合作PI之间的每周小组会议。

This GOALI award, co-funded by the Division of Materials Research and the Office of Multidisciplinary Activities of the Directorate for Mathematical & Physical Sciences, involves a collaboration between the University of Rochester and the Eastman Kodak Company. A new concept for photoresponsive polymers is described based on a process called Quantum Amplified Isomerization (QAI). QAI materials are defined as polymers that undergo electron transfer-initiated ion radical chain isomerization reactions upon absorption of light. QAI materials have the potential to overcome many of the known problems associated with existing photoresponsive polymers, while still retaining their primary advantages. Specifically, QAI materials are designed to produce many chemical tranformations per photon absorbed, with little or no accompanying dimensional changes. The primary research goals of this proposal are: (1) to obtain a predictive understanding of the fundamental ion radical chain reaction chemistry that forms the basis of QAI processes, (2) to test sensitization strategies for the efficient inititaion of QAI processes, (3) to use the insights from (1) and (2) to design and synthesize functionalized QAI polymers, and (3) to characterize key optical properties of new QAI materials.This collaboration is in the fields of photochemistry and optical materials for communications, and involves a number of educational experiences, including on-site industrial research for the students and weekly group meetings among the academic and industrial co-PI's.