Multifunctional Polymeric Materials for Use in Alternative Energy Technologies

由过渡金属和稳定的有机自由基组成的聚合物是两类多功能材料，基于其理想的氧化还原、磁性、导电性、刺激响应性和陶瓷前性能，已显示出巨大的应用前景。然而，目前用于制备这些聚合物的现有技术方法的范围对于可以并入的过渡金属和稳定基团是有限的。拟议研究计划的目标包括开发和开发合成方法，作为三个不同项目的一部分，允许实现包含一系列过渡金属和稳定的有机自由基的多功能聚合物。1)我们将开发过渡金属催化和可控自由基聚合协议，用于合成基于第一排过渡金属的高度金属化的含金属聚合物(MCP)。然后，我们将探索MCP的热解，以潜在地产生纳米颗粒，该纳米颗粒可能催化水的氧化，这是太阳能储存中的关键反应。2)我们将开发实现p型pi-共轭MCPs的合成方法，并利用所结合的过渡金属的性质来调节它们的最高占据分子轨道(HOMO)的能量、它们的电磁辐射吸收谱以及聚合物的自组装性质。这些变量中的每一个都可能在提高体异质结太阳能电池的效率方面发挥重要作用。3)我们将探索分离新的含有自由基的聚合物家族的途径，并探索它们作为空穴传输材料在染料敏化太阳能电池中再生的电化学性质和潜在用途。拟议的研究计划具有很高的创新性，将通过新技术的开发(和潜在的商业化)以及与加拿大工业界的合作伙伴关系，为加拿大的卓越做出重大贡献。它还将允许29名高素质人员(HQP)在5年资助期内接受培训。

Polymers comprised of transition metals and stable organic radicals are two classes of multifunctional materials that have shown significant promise based on their desirable redox, magnetic, conductive, stimuli responsive, and pre-ceramic properties. However, the scope of the current state of the art methods used to prepare these polymers is limited with respect to the transition metals and stable radicals that can be incorporated. The goals of the proposed research program involve the development and exploitation of synthetic methodologies allowing for the realization of multifunctional polymers incorporating a range of transition metals and stable organic radicals as part of three different projects. 1) We will develop transition metal-catalyzed and controlled radical polymerization protocols for the synthesis of highly metallized metal-containing polymers (MCPs) based on first row transition metals. We will then explore the pyrolysis of MCPs to potentially produce nanoparticles that may catalyze the oxidation of water, a key reaction in the storage of solar energy. 2) We will develop synthetic methods for the realization of p-type pi-conjugated MCPs and utilize the properties of the incorporated transition metals to tune the energy of their highest occupied molecular orbitals (HOMOs), their electromagnetic radiation absorption profiles, and the self-assembly properties of the polymers. Each of these variables may play an important role in increasing the efficiency of bulk heterojunction solar cells. 3) We will explore routes allowing for the isolation of novel families of radical-containing polymers, and explore their electrochemical properties and potential utility as hole transport materials for dye regeneration in dye-sensitized solar cells. The proposed research program is highly innovative and will make significant contributions to Canadian excellence through the development (and potential commercialization) of novel technologies and partnerships with Canadian industry. It will also allow 29 highly qualified personnel (HQP) to be trained during the 5 year funding period.