New Electronic Topologies in Organic Electronic Materials
Abstract
This project seeks to create new molecular and polymeric materials with exceptional magnetooptical (MO) and electronic properties. The target MO properties are generated by designing materials that display large Faraday effects. In this process, plane-polarized light is transmitted through the MO material and a rotation of the optical plane occurs when a magnetic field is applied along the optical path. There are multiple mechanisms by which a Faraday rotation can be induced and a series of structure property studies provide guidance for new material designs. The Swager group has devised approaches for the design of rigid polymers capable of assembling in a helix with a single chirality that persists in solution and the solid state. New generations of materials with desirable MO and electronic properties will be produced with persistent chiral helical structures. Examples include polymers wherein the pi-planes of aromatic ladder polymer structures create the walls of a chiral tube, which is expected to display a rich enantioselective host-guest behavior. Other examples include discotic liquid crystals and helical ladder polymers with pi-planes extending outward from the helical core. Yet other examples involve twisted ribbon structures. The coils of aromatic groups’ helix materials with pi-planes extending outward can produce designed intramolecular pi-pi stacking. Oxidation (doping) of the polymers can change the degree of stacking to create the basis of dimensional changes (actuation) along the helical structure. These helical polymers can also be modulated by intercalation of other electronically active molecules between the different coils of the helix. Particular structures, including phthalocyanines and metallocenes, have been identified that display excellent MO behavior. Continuing efforts will involve the synthesis and study of new elaborated multidecker metallocenes, polymeric metallocenes, and metal containing phthalocyanines.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Mar 07, 2023
- Source ID
- FA95502210051
Entities
People
- Timothy M. Swager
Organizations
- Air Force Office of Scientific Research
- Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- United States Air Force