Controlled Chain-Growth Polymerization of Donor-Acceptor Conjugated Monomers
Abstract
This proposal seeks to explore the Ni and Pd-catalyzed controlled chain-growth polymerization of thiophene-benzotriazole based donor acceptor monomers and develop a fundamental understanding of the working mechanism of these systems. If successful, this effort will provide a viable route to polymerizing electron-deficient monomers in a chain-growth fashion which is currently a significant challenge. To acheive the aforementioned objective, the PIs aim to: (1) Develop the Ni-catalyzed Kumada type chain-growth polymerizations of donor (D)- acceptor (A) and D-A-D monomers by judicious selection of catalysts (including Pd catalysts). Preliminary results highlighted the intricate interplay between the monomer and catalyst to achieiving controlled chain-growth polymerization of thiophene (donor)-benzotriazole (acceptor) monomers. With this effort, the PIs plan to sytematically screen reaction conditions (i.e., ratios of monomer and catalyst, different additives, and various solvents) and different catalysts to determine the optimal conditions for acheiving alternating conjugated D-A polymers with high molecular weights and low polydispersities (2) Elucidate the key mechanistic features of the chain-growth polymerization of D-A and D-A-D monomers, which can serve as a guide to further the development of catalysts and expansion of the scope of monomers. NMR and DFT calculations will be employed to carry out mechanistic studies. (3) Evaluate these polymers of controlled molecular weight and dispersity in photovoltaic device configuration and compare these results with those obtained from identical conjugated backbone prepared via traditional step-growth polymerization.
Document Details
- Document Type
- DoD Grant Award
- Publication Date
- Jan 12, 2017
- Source ID
- W911NF1610040
Entities
People
- Wei You
Organizations
- Army Contracting Command
- United States Army
- University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill