CAREER: Rationally Designed Conjugated Polymers Based on Benzobisazoles

技术概要。 共轭聚合物在光致发光电池、发光二极管和薄膜晶体管等应用中具有巨大的科学和技术重要性。 通过化学合成改变共轭聚合物的电子性质的能力允许针对特定应用优化其性质。 然而，尽管有大量的合成可获得的共轭聚合物，该值仍然是该领域的重要目标。 在现有的共轭聚合物中，聚（苯并二唑）非常适合用于有机半导体应用，因为它们将联合收割机光致发光和有效的电子传输与优异的热稳定性结合。 历史上，完全共辄的聚（苯并双唑）不溶于非质子溶剂，限制了它们的使用。 最近，Jeffries-EL小组已经证明，可溶性聚（苯并二唑）可以通过允许侧链容易变化的方法合成。 该职业奖将支持以下工作：（1）设计和合成新型可溶性聚（亚芳基苯并二唑）聚合物，（ii）研究聚合物结构对这些材料的光学，电子和物理性质的影响，以及（iii）通过针对8 - 12年级代表性不足的学生的外展工作培养对聚合物科学的兴趣。 本研究将阐明聚合物结构与电子性能之间的关系，为合成具有优化有机电子性能的导电聚合物提供合理的基础。 共轭聚合物在学术和商业上都在探索用于半导体应用。 其使用背后的动机是能够使用溶液加工技术（例如喷墨印刷）制造大面积膜，这转化为器件制造成本的显著降低。 该职业奖将（i）支持旨在增加设计共轭聚合物的基础知识的研究，这些聚合物具有优化的特性，可用作“塑料”电子产品（ii）为本科生和研究生提供跨学科的研究经验，以及（iii）通过针对8 - 12年级代表性不足的学生的创造性外展工作，培养对聚合物科学的兴趣。

TECHNICAL SUMMARY. Conjugated polymers are of tremendous scientific and technological importance for use in applications such as photovoltaics cells, light-emitting diodes and thin-film transistors. The ability to modify the electronic properties of conjugated polymers through chemical synthesis allows for the optimizaton of their properties for specific applications. However, iin spite of the large number of synthetically accessible conjugated polymers, the values remains an important goal in the field. Among existing conjugated polymers, poly (benzobisazoles) are well suited for use in organic semi-conducting applications because they combine photoluminescence and efficient electron transport with excellent thermal stability. Historically, fully conjugated poly (benzobisazoles) are insoluble in aprotic solvents, limiting their use. Recently, the Jeffries-EL group has demonstrated that soluble poly (benzobisazoles) can be synthesized via an approach that allows for easy variation of the side chains. This CAREER award will support efforts to (1) design and synthesize novel soluble poly (arylene benzobisazole) polymers, (ii) investigate the influence of polymer structure on the optical, electronic and physical properties of these materials, and (iii) foster interest in polymer science through an outreach effort targeting underrepresented students in the 8th - 12th grade. this research will elucidate the relationship between polymer structures and electronic properties providing a rational basis for synthesizing conductive polymers with optimized properties for organic electronics.NON-TECHNIAL SUMMARY. Conjugated polymers are being explored both academically and commercially for use in semi-conducting applications. The motivation behind their use is the ability to make large area films using solution-processing techniques such as inkjet printing, which translates into a significant reduction in the cost of device manufacture. This CAREER award will (i) support research intended to increase basic knowledge for designing conjugated polymers with optimized properties for use as "plastic" electronics (ii) provide interdisciplinary research experiences for both undergraduate and graduate students, and (iii) foster interest in polymer science through a creative outreach effort targeting underrepresented students in the 8th - 12th grade.