Conjugated Polyelectrolytes for Optoelectronic Applications

技术概述：共轭聚电解质是由具有可极化的pi离域电子结构和带有离子官能团的垂坠基团的聚合物骨架来描述的。因此，这些材料将半导体和光捕获聚合物的有用光学和电子属性与聚电解质的特性结合在一起，这些特性通过复杂的静电相互作用进行调制。这种特性的结合为设计可以集成到光电器件中的材料提供了独特的机会。一个有吸引力的目标是创造稳定的p-n结，这是制造无机固态器件的基石。由于难以沉积具有独立p掺杂层和n掺杂层的薄膜，在有机对应物中很难获得这样的基本模块。该方法将利用离子在聚合物双分子层上的迁移和伴随形成的共价键来永久固定连接。将设计和合成具有阴离子受体基团和溶解度的特定聚合物，用于多层器件的制造。另一个机会在于共轭多两性离子的设计、合成和应用。这些材料是通过将路易斯酸附着在聚合物链上的孤对电子上而产生的。当这种方法用于具有供体/受体基序的共轭聚合物时，由于电荷转移激发态的稳定，有可能在吸收谱中获得大的红移。这种聚合物基本上是未开发的，为太阳能电池制造的新材料的设计提供了新的机会。新兴的有机光电技术需要具有合适的电子特性的材料，可以通过溶液方法进行大规模制造，例如类似于用于生产摄影胶片的材料。共轭聚电解质是一类新型半导体聚合物，它为制造类似于硅基技术广泛使用的模块提供了机会。本提案的主要目标之一是将这些共轭聚电解质和相关材料集成到二极管和塑料太阳能电池中。这项工作将包括分子设计、材料制备、物理性质检查以及设备制造和测试。学生将受益于广阔的科学视野，这将有助于他们未来的职业生涯。此外，还建立了国际联系，以提高他们对全球合作的认识。在本科院校和少数民族院校开展教育项目。

TECHNICAL SUMMARYConjugated polyelectrolytes are described by a polymer backbone with a polarizable pi-delocalized electronic structure and pendant groups bearing ionic functionalities. These materials thus incorporate the useful optical and electronic attributes of semiconducting and light harvesting polymers with the properties of polyelectrolytes, which are modulated by complex electrostatic interactions. Such a combination of properties opens unique opportunities for designing materials that can be integrated into optoelectronic devices. One attractive target involves the creation of stable p-n junctions, which constitute a cornerstone in the fabrication of inorganic solid state devices. Such a fundamental module in organic counterparts has been difficult to attain due to difficulties in depositing thin films with independent p-doped and n-doped layers. The approach will take advantage of ion migration across polymer bilayers and concomitant formation of covalent bonds for permanently fixing the junction. Specific polymers will be designed and synthesized that have anion receptor groups and solubility properties for multilayer device fabrication. Another opportunity lies in the design, synthesis and applications of conjugated polyzwitterions. These materials are generated by attaching Lewis acids to lone pairs of electrons present along the polymer chain. When this approach is used on a conjugated polymer with a donor/acceptor motif, it is possible to attain large red shifts in the absorption profiles due to the stabilization of charge transfer excited states. Such polymers are essentially unexplored and offer new opportunities in the design of new materials for solar cell fabrication.NON-TECHNICAL SUMMARYEmerging organic optoelectronic technologies require materials with suitable electronic properties that can enable mass fabrication by solution methods, for example similar to those used in the production of photographic film. Conjugated polyelectrolytes are a new class of semiconducting polymers that open opportunities to create modules similar to those widely used with silicon-based technologies. One of the principal goals of this proposal is to integrate these conjugated polyelectrolytes and related materials into diodes and plastic solar cells. The work will include molecular design, materials preparation, examination of physical properties and device fabrication and testing. Students will benefit from a broad scientific perspective, which will serve them well in their future careers. Additionally, international links are in place for raising their awareness to global collaborations. Programs are also in place for educational programs with undergraduate and minority-serving institutions.