Conjugated oligomers and polymers with precise structure and molecular weight are being prepared for basic scientific studies of macroscopic and microscopic chemical, electronic and optical properties.
Model polymers and oligomers have been prepared and preliminary samples of end functionalized polyene oligomers are available. Laser apparatus for photophysical studies is being assembled and tested on known samples. Theoretical calculation of the band gaps of a series of model polymers is providing guidelines for synthesis. The characterization of conductive polymer layers for capacitors has been completed ahead of schedule. An evaluation procedure has been developed to evaluate the potential of materials for field effect transistors (FET) etc. Initial studies of sensors utilizing enzymes incorporated in conductive polymers are underway. Scanning tunnelling microscopy (STM) studies of materials on graphite substrates have revealed extreme sensitivity of the formation of stable, imageable layers to molecular structure. Modelling of molecule substrate interactions together with studies of specifically prepared molecules and a range of substrates are being undertaken to elucidate this effect. Software for image analysis has been tested on STM images of monolayers.