Organoborane-based Materials: Photoreactivity, Photochromism, Chemical Sensing and Electroluminescence

有机硼烷材料在催化、光电子器件(如非线性光学、有机发光二极管、有机晶体管、有机光伏、智能窗等)、生物成像/探针和传感系统等方面有着重要而广泛的应用。有机硼烷化学和基于有机硼烷的材料的发展一直是我们研究的一个持续和中心主题。我们的目标是发现和开发新的有机硼烷化合物的光化学性质和反应性，从而开发出更好的功能材料。 我们的研究将集中在以下几个方面：1.有机硼烷的光反应性；2.通过电子给体(膦或富电子金属中心)和电子受体(硼烷)的协作性进行的反应；3.用于传感应用的羧基修饰有机硼烷；以及IV.有机硼烷修饰金属化合物用于有机发光器件。主题I将使我们对有机硼烷的光反应性有新的认识和见解，并开发一类新的B-N取代的共轭材料，用于光电子器件。主题II将使我们能够建立新的方法来触发化学反应，应用于化学转化和催化。主题三将使我们能够使用对人类健康和环境重要的氟离子的论文来开发有效的视觉传感系统。主题四将使我们能够开发用于OLED的高效蓝色荧光粉，这是一种非常具有挑战性的材料，在OLED行业需求很高，将用于节能的下一代显示器和照明设备。 所申请的资金将支持王组每年8名研究生、2名暑期学生和4年级研究论文学生的研究活动。

Organoborane-based materials have important and broad applications in catalysis, optoelectronic devices (e.g. non-linear optics, organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), organic transistors, organic photovoltaic, smart windows etc), bio-imaging/probes and sensory systems. The development of organoborane chemistry and organoborane-based materials has been an on-going and central theme of our research. We aim to discover and exploit new photochemistry and reactivity of organoborane compounds so that better functional materials can be developed. Our research will focus on the following topics: I. Photoreactivity of organoboranes, II. Reactivity via cooperativity of electron donors (phosphine or electron-rich metal centers) and electron acceptors (boranes), III. Decorating organoboranes with carboxylic groups for sensing applications, and IV. Decorating metal compounds with organoboranes for use in OLEDs. Topic I will allow us to acquire new knowledge and insights on photoreactivity of organoboranes and to develop a new class of B-N substituted conjugated materials for applications in optoelectronic devices. Topic II will allow us to establish new methods to trigger chemical reactivity for applications in chemical transformation and catalysis. Topic III will enable us to develop effective visual sensing systems using papers for fluoride ions that are important for human health and the environment. Topic IV will allow us to develop highly efficient blue phosphors for OLEDs, a very challenging class of materials that are in high demand in OLEDs industry and will be used in energy efficient next generation display and lighting devices. The requested funding will support the research activity of 8 graduate students, two summer students and the 4th year research thesis students in the Wang group each year.