Research in our group involves the design and synthesis of functional macromolecules in order to create micro- or nanoscale assemblies with novel optoelectronic or photonic properties. We are particularly interested in the relationship between the molecular and macroscopic structure, and how that affects the electrical and optical properties of the materials. The research centers around 3 different areas:
1. Synthesis of novel semiconducting polymerWith the realization of the first organic light emitting diode (OLED) where a conjugated polymer was used as the active component, organic semiconductors have attracted much interest because of their potential in developing light-weight, low cost, flexible and possibly even disposable plastic electronic devices. For organic electronic devices to become a reality, high performance organic semiconductors must be developed. We are looking at the synthesis of new polymers and how the molecular structure affects the electronic properties of the materials.
2. Self-assembly of semiconducting polymersThe optical and electronic properties of a semiconducting polymer are very much dependent on their macroscopic structures. Additionally, electronic device properties vary greatly with nanoscale morphologies of the semiconducting polymers. In the group, we are synthesizing random copolymers and block copolymers, which can affect the nanoscale morphology of a polymer blend, in order to increase the efficiency of the devices. Additionally, polymer-protein conjugates are being synthesized to facilitate bio-inspired materials assembly.
3. Chemical and biological sensorsThe development of materials that are capable of manipulating and monitoring biomolecular interactions has come under increased attention due to their potential applications in molecular electronics and biosensors. Conjugated polymers, in particular, offer several advantages for these applications, as they are sensitive to minor perturbations. Conjugated polymers can be viewed as a collection of short, oligomeric units that give rise to the amplification of signals by the collective response of the individual units, and therefore can offer advantages when compared to their small molecule counterparts. We are looking at the synthesis of novel water-soluble semiconducting polymers, which are capable of interacting with biological systems, and the synthesis of semiconducting polymer-protein conjugates.