Metal-Ligand Interactions in Organic Semiconductors: Fine-tuning the Mechanical and Electronic Properties of Conjugated Polymers
Standing
Undergraduate
Type of Proposal
Oral Research Presentation
Faculty
Faculty of Science
Faculty Sponsor
Dr. Simon Rondeau-Gagné
Proposal
In our modern age of technology, electronic devices are evolving faster than ever. Developing devices with not only improved electronic properties, but also mechanical properties close to that of human skin, would launch the emergence of wearable, stretchable electronics, able to operate under a variety of conditions. Evidently, to achieve such unique properties, the brittle silicon used in current devices is not ideal. A more promising material for these next-generation electronics is organic, π-conjugated polymers, due to their soft nature, molecular stretchability, low cost, and processability.
In recent literature, however, these polymers demonstrate lower charge transport than their inorganic counterparts and still possess inadequate thermomechanical properties. To achieve desired performance and skin-like properties, additional chemical moieties should be incorporated into the polymer. This project presents the promising strategy of incorporating pincer ligands to the side chains of diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) based π-conjugated polymers. These ligands generate dynamic interactions with transition metal ions and form coordination complexes—a promising avenue for fine-tuning current π-conjugated polymers.
Two pincer ligands were investigated in the present work: a benzimidazole pyridine-based pincer ligand (MeBZIMPY) and a terpyridine-based pincer ligand (BzTerpy). A myriad of characterization techniques confirmed successful synthesis of these metal-coordinating polymers. Their structure in thin films was assessed through UV-VIS spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Finally, to test their electronic properties, organic field-effect transistors were fabricated using these polymers. Charge mobility in one case increased by 40% after incorporating coordination complexes, demonstrating the great potential of this new approach to fine-tune π-conjugated polymers for next-generation electronics.
Availability
March 29 from 12-1pm, March 31 from 12-1pm, April 1 from 12-2pm
Metal-Ligand Interactions in Organic Semiconductors: Fine-tuning the Mechanical and Electronic Properties of Conjugated Polymers
In our modern age of technology, electronic devices are evolving faster than ever. Developing devices with not only improved electronic properties, but also mechanical properties close to that of human skin, would launch the emergence of wearable, stretchable electronics, able to operate under a variety of conditions. Evidently, to achieve such unique properties, the brittle silicon used in current devices is not ideal. A more promising material for these next-generation electronics is organic, π-conjugated polymers, due to their soft nature, molecular stretchability, low cost, and processability.
In recent literature, however, these polymers demonstrate lower charge transport than their inorganic counterparts and still possess inadequate thermomechanical properties. To achieve desired performance and skin-like properties, additional chemical moieties should be incorporated into the polymer. This project presents the promising strategy of incorporating pincer ligands to the side chains of diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP) based π-conjugated polymers. These ligands generate dynamic interactions with transition metal ions and form coordination complexes—a promising avenue for fine-tuning current π-conjugated polymers.
Two pincer ligands were investigated in the present work: a benzimidazole pyridine-based pincer ligand (MeBZIMPY) and a terpyridine-based pincer ligand (BzTerpy). A myriad of characterization techniques confirmed successful synthesis of these metal-coordinating polymers. Their structure in thin films was assessed through UV-VIS spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction. Finally, to test their electronic properties, organic field-effect transistors were fabricated using these polymers. Charge mobility in one case increased by 40% after incorporating coordination complexes, demonstrating the great potential of this new approach to fine-tune π-conjugated polymers for next-generation electronics.