Hexacoordinate Silicon Complexes for Electronic Devices

化学部的化学合成计划支持一个由托马斯·A·施梅代克教授领导的跨学科研究小组(系。他是北卡罗来纳大学夏洛特分校的化学教授(化学)、Michael Walter(化学)和张勇(电气和计算机工程)，共同开发用于光电子器件应用的六配位硅复合体，如用于收集光能的光伏发电或光纤通信。该项目的目标是通过开发具有优于现有材料的电子和光学性能的新型硅基分子材料来克服目前有机电子器件的一些局限性。为了实现这一目标，北卡罗来纳大学夏洛特分校的团队正在开发新的方法，以合成具有优化的电子和光学分子性能的化学稳定和坚固的硅络合物。一旦制造出来，这些络合物就会被整合到原型设备中，以测量它们对设备性能的影响。这种络合物的合成和器件制造之间的相互作用有助于阐明宏观器件优化所需的分子级合成设计原则。这个跨学科的项目横跨化学、材料科学和电气工程领域，为从高中到研究生的不同职业阶段的学生提供特殊的培训。此外，合作者还与当地一家科学博物馆、教师和学校合作，开发和提供化学和STEM方面的推广计划。北卡罗来纳大学夏洛特分校的团队正在合成新的电子传输层和电致发光材料，这些材料基于带有双阴离子钳形配体的中性六配位硅络合物，以增加化学稳定性、强健的氧化还原化学、低偶极矩、简单的立体化学和低重组能。这些是有机发光二极管、磷光LED和其他分子电子器件中分子组件的理想特性。这些络合物也是真空沉积、高效和富含稀土的无机LED荧光粉涂层的有吸引力的候选者。该计划既包括合成络合物的开发，也包括将其纳入原型设备，以便可以测量它们的性质。这些研究内容正在与研究人员的课堂教学以及与当地科学博物馆、教师和学校的持续合作相结合，以开发和提供化学和STEM方面的外展项目。该奖项反映了NSF的法定使命，并通过使用基金会的智力优势和更广泛的影响审查标准进行评估，被认为值得支持。

The Chemical Synthesis Program of the Chemistry Division supports an interdisciplinary research team led by Professors Thomas A. Schmedake (Dept. of Chemistry), Michael Walter (Chemistry), and Yong Zhang (Electrical and Computer Engineering) at the University of North Carolina - Charlotte to develop hexacoordinate silicon complexes for optoelectronic device applications like the development of photovoltaics for harvesting light energy or fiber optic communications. The goal of the project is to overcome some of the current limitations of organic electronic devices by developing new silicon-based molecular materials with electronic and optical properties superior to those of current materials. To accomplish this goal, the team at UNC Charlotte is developing new methodology for synthesizing chemically stable and robust silicon complexes with optimized electronic and optical molecular properties. Once made, the complexes are incorporated into prototype devices to measure their effect on device performance. This interplay between the synthesis of the complexes and device fabrication serves to elucidate the molecular-level synthetic design principles needed for macroscale device optimization. The interdisciplinary project spans the fields of chemistry, materials science, and electrical engineering and provides exceptional training for students at various stages in their careers ranging from high school through graduate school. In addition, the collaborators work with a local science museum, teachers, and schools to develop and provide outreach programs in chemistry and STEM.The team at UNC Charlotte is synthesizing new electron transport layer and electroluminescent materials based on neutral hexacoordinate silicon complexes with dianionic pincer ligands for added chemical stability, robust redox chemistry, low dipole moments, simple stereochemistry, and low reorganization energies. These are ideal properties for molecular components in organic light emitting diodes, phosphorescent LEDs and other molecular electronics devices. The complexes are also attractive candidates for vacuum deposited, high-efficiency, and earth-abundant replacements of rare-earth element phosphor coatings for inorganic LEDs. The program involves both the development of the synthetic complexes and their incorporation into prototype devices so that their properties can be measured. These research components are being integrated with both the classroom teaching of the investigators and ongoing collaborations with a local science museum, teachers, and schools to develop and provide outreach programs in chemistry and STEM.This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the Foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.