Organophosphorus Avenues Toward Molecular and Supramolecular Sustainable-Energy Materials

拟议研究计划的主要主题是新型有机磷材料的设计、合成和表征。更具体地说，这项研究针对几个以能源为重点的主题，通过自下而上的综合方法解决能源的有效和可持续使用、转化和/或储存问题。到目前为止，我的团队已经能够将有机磷物种确立为独特而强大的先进功能材料，具有非常理想的特性(特别是强烈且可调的发光、电子受体特性和稳定的氧化还原化学)，使我们的分子构建块成为各种重要的可持续能源应用的优秀候选者。我们现在正处于一个十字路口，允许我们以一种新颖的、颠覆性的研究方法冒险进入能量转换和存储方面的基本上未知的领域。在分子水平上，该提议的目标是合成新的电子活性构建块，并建立关键的结构-性质关系。第二个目标是纳米/微观尺度，以解决新型有机能源材料的下一个挑战-高度有序的块体相。在实际应用中，需要一个块状材料的系综来显示最佳的电子通信，并且已经确定高度有序的系统能够在这方面表现得非常好。利用目标分子构建块，自组装功能将被安装在材料中，以液晶和凝胶的形式生成高度有序的纳米/微观主体相，与溶液中的孤立分子相比，有望显示出更强的电子特征。这同样适用于将新的构筑块作为整体组分并入共轭聚合物的主干内，或作为适当改性的聚苯乙烯的侧链官能化。此外，能量还可以有效地储存在化学键中，特别是在可以作为常规碳氢燃料或非传统燃料的物种中，这是太阳能燃料背后的主要概念。该计划的第三个目标是过渡金属催化剂，这些催化剂将水或二氧化碳等底物转化为可燃燃料(分别用于燃料电池或传统内燃机)。具体地说，我们的目标是具有独特的有机磷配体组的新型催化剂，以稳定水和二氧化碳转化中的活性中间体。由于其多学科的性质，拟议的研究计划涵盖有机材料化学的全部范围，包括先进的合成、建模、广泛的表征和应用。拟议研究的目标应用涉及新的能源和环境技术，这些技术要么减少能源使用，要么构成通过转换太阳能发电的可持续途径。为了提供一种存储能量的方法，通过太阳能转换(或传统的碳氢化合物燃料)获得的能量，该研究计划还针对能够存储电荷的新型有机电池材料的开发，再次使用有机磷构建块和自组装方法。此外，太阳能燃料催化剂的有针对性的开发允许以水和/或二氧化碳为底物以化学键的形式存储能量。因此，该计划将提供重要的知识，并在战略上使加拿大处于为我们这个星球的可持续未来开发基本技术的前沿。

The overarching theme of the proposed research program is the design, synthesis and characterization of novel organophosphorus materials. More specifically, the research targets several energy-focused topics, addressing the efficient and sustainable use, conversion, and/or storage of energy via a synthetic bottom-up approach. To date my group has been able to establish organophosphorus species as unique and powerful advanced functional materials with highly desirable properties (strong and tunable luminescence, electron-acceptor features, and stable redox chemistry in particular) that make our molecular building blocks superior candidates for a variety of important sustainable energy applications. We are now at a crossroads that allows us to venture into largely uncharted territory with regard to the conversion and storage of energy in a novel, disruptive research approach.On the molecular scale, the proposal targets the synthesis of novel electronically active building blocks and establishing crucial structure-property relationships. A second stream targets the nano/microscopic scale to address the next challenge for novel organic energy materials – highly ordered bulk phases. In practical applications, an ensemble of bulk materials is required to show optimum electronic communication, and it has been established that highly ordered systems are capable of performing superbly in this regard. Utilizing the targeted molecular building blocks, self-assembly features will be installed within the materials to generate highly ordered nano/microscopic bulk phases in the form of liquid crystals and gels that are expected to show enhanced electronic features, when compared to isolated molecules in solution. The same applies to the incorporation of the new building blocks as integral components within the backbone of conjugated polymers, or as side chain functionalization of suitably modified polystyrenes. Moreover, energy can also be efficiently stored in chemical bonds, particularly in species that can then act as conventional hydrocarbon fuels or non-conventional fuels, which is the main concept behind solar fuels. The third stream in the program targets transition metal-based catalysts that convert substrates, such as water or carbon dioxide, into combustible fuels (for fuel cells, or traditional combustion engines, respectively). Specifically we are targeting novel catalysts that bear unique, organophosphorus-based ligand sets to stabilize reactive intermediates in the conversion of water and carbon dioxide. Due to its multidisciplinary nature, the proposed research program covers the full breadth of organic materials chemistry encompassing advanced synthesis, modeling, extensive characterization, and application. The applications targeted by the proposed research involve novel energy and environment technologies that either reduce the use of energy, or constitute sustainable avenues toward producing electricity by converting solar power. To provide for a means of storing energy, obtained either via solar energy conversion (or traditional hydrocarbon fuels), this research program also targets the development of novel organic battery materials that are capable of storing charges, again using an organophosphorus building-block and self-assembly approach. Moreover, the targeted development of solar fuel catalysts allows storing energy in the form of chemical bonds using water and/or carbon dioxide as substrate. This program will thus provide crucial knowledge and strategically position Canada at the forefront of the development of essential technologies for a sustainable future of our planet.