Creating a Toolbox for the Asymmetric Alkylation of Isoindigo Based Polymers
Standing
Undergraduate
Type of Proposal
Oral Research Presentation
Challenges Theme
Open Challenge
Faculty Sponsor
Simon Rondeau-Gagne
Proposal
Due to their low cost, easy modification, and solution processability, organic semiconducting polymers have gained increasing interest for their applications in a wide variety of organic electronic devices including; organic field effect transistors (OFETs), organic light emitting (OLEDs) diodes, and organic photovoltaics (OPVs). Side chain engineering is an important factor in modulating the intrinsic properties of these semiconducting polymers in terms of molecular stacking, and intermolecular interactions, as well as thin film morphology, all contributing to device performance. A relatively new area of interest for polymer modification is asymmetric side chain synthesis. This work focuses on creating a toolbox for the asymmetric alkylation of Isoindigo-Bithiophene donor-acceptor type polymers. The effects of asymmetry will be determined by keeping one alkyl chain constant and then successively moving the branching point of the second alkyl chain further from the polymers’ backbone. To determine polymer performance, top-gate bottom-contact devices will be fabricated to test asymmetry-mobility relationships.
Grand Challenges
Viable, Healthy and Safe Communities
Creating a Toolbox for the Asymmetric Alkylation of Isoindigo Based Polymers
Due to their low cost, easy modification, and solution processability, organic semiconducting polymers have gained increasing interest for their applications in a wide variety of organic electronic devices including; organic field effect transistors (OFETs), organic light emitting (OLEDs) diodes, and organic photovoltaics (OPVs). Side chain engineering is an important factor in modulating the intrinsic properties of these semiconducting polymers in terms of molecular stacking, and intermolecular interactions, as well as thin film morphology, all contributing to device performance. A relatively new area of interest for polymer modification is asymmetric side chain synthesis. This work focuses on creating a toolbox for the asymmetric alkylation of Isoindigo-Bithiophene donor-acceptor type polymers. The effects of asymmetry will be determined by keeping one alkyl chain constant and then successively moving the branching point of the second alkyl chain further from the polymers’ backbone. To determine polymer performance, top-gate bottom-contact devices will be fabricated to test asymmetry-mobility relationships.