CAREER: Organized Materials for Plastic Electronics - Divided Pi-Ways and Platinum Energy Canopies

该奖项是根据2009年美国复苏和再投资法案（公法111-5）资助的。史密斯在克莱姆森大学开发和研究两种令人兴奋的新材料，具有非常明确和可调的有机和混合有机/有机金属π系统的分子水平组织。他将采用独特的形状持久的支架，确保相邻pi系统的特定对齐。在给定的技术应用中，所实施的π系统间相互作用的模式又将使每种材料倾向于理想化的性能（即，一些模式对于光致发光器件是理想的，另一些模式对于发光器件是理想的）。除了它们在轻质太阳能电池等令人垂涎的技术方面的巨大潜力外，对这些材料的光电特性的彻底表征将揭示分子水平组织如何决定性能的基本见解，并阐明特权材料组合如何协同作用，从而为下一代技术提供合理的设计策略。所采用的分子支架包括用于有机金属聚合物的新型氧杂环芳结构和捕光膦。这项工作还将通过各种协同活动对科学教育产生更广泛的影响。这些教育活动的首要目标是提高对物理科学的认识和参与。这些努力涉及服务学习计划，推广和现代教育理论和学习模式指导下的聚合物科学课程的发展。新的课程材料包括基于项目的聚合物实验室模块，旨在模仿本科生的研究生院研究经验。本科生研究指导也是教育计划的一个重要组成部分。该奖项将支持本科生在夏季的工资，以及他们参加会议的旅行，更好地为这些年轻科学家的研究生涯做好准备。

This award is funded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 (Public Law 111-5).This CAREER award by the Organic and Macromolecular Chemistry Program in the Chemistry Division at the National Science Foundation supports Professor Rhett C. Smith at Clemson University to develop and study two exciting new classes of materials featuring remarkably well-defined and tunable molecular-level organization of organic and hybrid organic/organometallic pi-systems. The unique, shape-persistent scaffolds he will employ ensure specific alignment of adjacent pi-systems. The mode of inter-pi-system interaction enforced will in turn predispose each material to idealized performance in a given technological application (i.e. some modes are ideal for photovoltaics, others for light emitting devices). In addition to their great potential for highly coveted technologies such as lightweight solar cells, thorough characterization of the opto/electronic properties of these materials will reveal fundamental insights into how molecular-level organization dictates performance and elucidate how privileged material combinations act synergistically, thus forwarding rational design strategies for next generation technologies. The molecular scaffolds that are employed include novel oxacyclophane constructs and light-harvesting phosphines used for organometallic polymers.This work will also have a broader impact on science education through a variety of synergistic activities. The overarching aim of these educational activities is to increase awareness and participation in physical science. These efforts involve a service learning program, outreach and the development of polymer science courses guided by modern education theory and learning models. New course materials include projects-based polymer laboratory modules designed to mimic the graduate school research experience for undergraduates. Undergraduate research mentoring is also a key component of the educational plan. This award will support salary for undergraduates in the summer, and for their travel to conferences, better preparing these young scientists for careers in research.