High Resolution Optical Microscopy Studies of Aggregation and Dynamics in Photoactive Self-Assembled Polyelectrolyte-Surfactant Composites

堪萨斯州立大学的Daniel Higgins教授在分析和表面化学项目和固态化学项目的支持下，开发了两亲性、离子型、表面活性的二亚胺，与普通的聚电解质一起用于制备复合光活性薄膜。实验涉及近场扫描光学显微镜（NSOM），用于典型的50-100纳米聚集体的分辨率。多光子激发荧光各向异性测量（MPEFM）用于研究发色团的组织。这两个实验的动态版本提供了有关载流子产生和迁移速率的信息。利用小角度x射线散射和原子力显微镜研究了块状材料的膜形态和其他数据。这种薄膜最终可能用于有机光导体和光伏电池。这类材料的进一步发展有望使显示和能源技术成为可能，例如太阳能电池，它具有柔韧性、可塑性和自愈性。

Professor Daniel Higgins of Kansas State University is supported by the Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program and the Solid State Chemistry Program to develop amphiphilic, ionic, surface-active di-imides to be used along with common polyelectrolytes in the preparation of composite photoactive thin films. The experiments involve near-field scanning optical microscopy (NSOM) for resolution of the typically 50-100 nm aggregates. Multiphoton-excited fluorescence anisotropy measurements (MPEFM) are used to study chromophore organization. Dynamical versions of these two experiments provide information about the rates of charge carrier generation and migration. Film morphology and other data about the bulk materials are studied using small-angle X-ray scattering and atomic force microscopy. The films may ultimately be useful in organic photoconductors and photovoltaics. Further development of this class of materials promises to make available display and energy technologies, for example solar cells, that are flexible, moldable and self-healing.