Exploring how a Conductive Polymer Emerges from its Component Polymer Molecules

非技术性描述：这项研究探讨了柔性，透明和导电聚合物的电气性能-材料的巨大重要性，包括太阳能电池和便携式显示器的各种设备。 虽然这种聚合物膜由许多单个分子组成，但它们的光学和电子性质与其孤立分子组分的光学和电子性质截然不同。该研究旨在了解这些聚合物薄膜的性质如何从其分子构建块中产生。具体来说，它的目的是阐明的作用，制造条件和分子之间的相互作用，在出现的有序，结晶聚合物薄膜的电子性能。为了探索这种演变，该项目实施了单个聚合物分子的光学测量，以及不断增加的分子聚集体。通过这种方式，可以在越来越大的尺度上检查聚合物的电子性质，范围从单个分子到有序薄膜。研究团队由来自不同背景的研究生和本科生研究人员组成。参与者接受材料科学，化学和光子学的培训。国际合作有助于加强研究工作以及跨学科的培训机会。此外，正在开发一个关于光子材料的教学单元。 技术描述：共轭聚合物（CP）由于其传导激子和电荷的能力而在技术上非常重要。这些材料的大多数装置应用利用薄聚合物膜。该项目需要使用最近开发的光谱工具来阐明薄膜电子行为如何从其单个分子成分的性质以及分子间相互作用中出现。具体而言，研究实施单分子光谱学来解决极化子的性质-共轭聚合物中的电荷载流子-其电子结构和分布对于确保最佳器件性能至关重要。 实验包括光谱研究的范围内的长度尺度，从孤立的聚合物，通过小球和域，多域结构。以这种方式，它是可能的，以确定的临界长度尺度上出现的膜状行为，和控制参数的影响，这种转变的开始。该研究利用超高品质因数的光学微谐振器作为电子和偏振光谱的平台，使带电和导电CP的探测成为可能。通过研究光学性质、电子结构和分子有序性的相互作用，可以构建光子有机材料电子性质的详细模型。

Nontechnical description: This study examines the electrical properties of flexible, transparent and conductive polymers - materials of tremendous importance to a variety of devices including solar cells and portable displays. Although such polymer films are composed of numerous individual molecules, their optical and electronic properties are extremely different from those of their isolated molecular constituents. The study aims to understand how the properties of these polymeric films emerge from their molecular building blocks. Specifically, it aims to elucidate the role fabrication conditions and interactions between molecules play in the emergence of electronic properties of ordered, crystalline polymer films. To explore this evolution, the project implements optical measurements of single polymer molecules, as well as molecular aggregates of increasing size. In this manner, electronic properties of polymers are examined over increasing scales, ranging from individual molecules through ordered thin films. The research team comprises graduate students and undergraduate researchers from diverse backgrounds. Participants receive training in materials science, chemistry, and photonics. An international collaboration serves to enhance research efforts as well as interdisciplinary training opportunities. In addition, a teaching module on photonic materials is being developed. Technical description: Conjugated polymers (CPs) are technologically important due to their ability to conduct excitons and charge. Most device applications of these materials utilize thin polymeric films. This project entails the use of a recently developed spectroscopic tool to elucidate how thin film electronic behavior emerges from the properties of its individual molecular constituents, as well as from intermolecular interactions. Specifically, studies implement single-molecule spectroscopy to address the nature of polarons - charge carriers in conjugated polymers - whose electronic structure and distribution are critical for ensuring optimal device performance. Experiments encompass spectroscopic studies on a range of length scales, from isolated polymers, through globules and domains, to multi-domain structures. In this manner it is possible to identify the critical length scale over which film-like behavior emerges, and the control parameters influencing the onset of this transition. The study utilizes ultra-high quality-factor optical microresonators as platforms for electronic and polarization spectroscopy, enabling the probing of charged and conducting CPs. Through studies of the interplay of optical properties, electronic structure, and molecular ordering it is possible to construct a detailed model of the electronic properties of photonic organic materials.