Conjugated Polyelectrolytes for Optoelectronic Applications

本提案涉及共轭聚电解质的合成和性能。这些材料由具有p-离域电子结构的聚合物骨架和具有在高介电介质中电离功能的垂坠基团来描述。最近，共轭聚电解质在光电器件制造中的应用表明，它们可以对基于有机半导体材料的新兴技术产生重大影响。因此，该提案的主要目标是通过设计特定的分子结构来解决感兴趣的特性，从而了解它们的体热和光电子特性。新的合成方法将通过引入新的重复单元、悬垂基团和选择反离子来增加共轭聚电解质的结构多样性。差示扫描量热法将用于将分子结构与热性质（如熔化温度和玻璃化转变温度）联系起来，这与器件的稳定性有关。纳米级电子特性，作为分子结构和加工方法的功能，将通过使用各种原子力显微镜技术进行检查。界面上的电荷注入和本体中的电荷迁移率将通过四个探针测量薄膜和场效应晶体管的制造来评估。这项工作的完成将填补我们对共轭聚合物性质的理解的巨大空白，以及这些特性在电化学发光电池、有机发光二极管、薄膜晶体管和太阳能电池等应用中的影响。此外，共轭聚电解质在生物和化学感官方案中有着广泛的应用，它比基于小分子的替代品具有优势。共轭聚电解质是一类有机半导体，它使新兴的有机基技术（如多色显示器、低能耗照明光源、高效太阳能电池、高灵敏度生物检测系统和可印刷电子产品）具有更好的性能。本提案中的工作将更好地理解如何通过在分子水平上控制和设计相关性质来优化器件功能和制造选择。所描述的工作是高度跨学科的，为教育下一代科学家提供了一个极好的媒介，这些科学家对弥合传统上不重叠的科学和技术领域感兴趣。重点研究可以从适合本科生、高中教师和社区大学教师的工作计划中划分出来。先前对共轭聚电解质的研究已经产生了相当有价值的知识产权，这导致了几家初创公司的成立。

Technical SummaryThis proposal concerns the synthesis and properties of conjugated polyelectrolytes. These materials are described by a polymer backbone with a p-delocalized electronic structure and pendant groups with functionalities capable of ionizing in a high dielectric medium. Very recently, applications of conjugated polyelectrolytes in the fabrication of optoelectronic devices have shown that they can make a substantial impact in emerging technologies based on organic semiconducting materials. The major goal of the proposal is thus to develop an understanding of their bulk thermal and optoelectronic properties by designing specific molecular structures that address properties of interest. Novel synthetic methods will be developed to increase the structural diversity of conjugated polyelectrolytes by introduction of new repeat units, pendant groups and choice of counterions. Differential scanning calorimetry will be used to correlate molecular structure to thermal properties, such as melting and glass transition temperatures, which bear relevance to device stabilities. Nanoscale electronic properties, as a function of molecular structure and processing methods, will be examined by using various atomic force microscopy techniques. Charge injection at interfaces and charge mobility in the bulk will be assessed by four probe measurements of films and by the fabrication of field effect transistors. Completion of the work will fill large gaps in our understanding of conjugated polymer properties and how these impact function in applications such as electrochemiluminescent cells, organic light emitting diodes, thin film transistors and solar cells. Additionally, conjugated polyelectrolytes have found widespread utility in biological and chemical sensory schemes that offer advantages over small molecule-based alternatives. Non-Technical SummaryConjugated polyelectrolytes are a class of organic semiconductors that enable better performance of emerging organic-based technologies such as multicolor displays, less energy intensive illumination sources, efficient solar cells, highly sensitive biological detection systems and printable electronics. The work in this proposal will yield a better understanding of how to optimize device function and manufacturing options by controlling and designing the relevant properties at the molecular level. The work described is highly interdisciplinary and provides an excellent medium for educating the next generation of scientists interested in bridging traditionally non-overlapping areas of science and technology. Focused studies can be carved out from the proposed work suitable for the schedules of undergraduate students, high school teachers and community college instructors. Previous research in conjugated polyelectrolytes has yielded considerable valuable intellectual property, which has led to the creation of several start up companies.