Objective
The aim of this project is to synthesize a range of luminescent conjugated polyrotaxanes, using aqueous Suzuki coupling. These materials will consist of a conjugated polymer backbone shielded from the external environment by a closely spaced series of threaded cyclodextrin macro cycles. Polyrotaxanes will be prepared with a variety of conjugated backbones, including poly-para-phenylenes, poly-para-phenylenevinylenes and polyfluorenes, using both alpha and beta-cyclodextrin. We will investigate the effect of changing the charge on the conjugated backbone and test a range of different end-groups. All these polyrotaxanes will be characterized by NMR, MALDI TOF mass spectrometry and GPC, and selected materials will be probed by small angle neutron scattering (SANS) in collaboration with Dr. R.G. Bucknall (University of Oxford). We will also investigate the fluorescence spectra and quantum yields, both in solution and in the solid state, to explore how insulation of the conjugated backbone modifies its photo-luminescence. The most promising materials tested as emissive layers in light emitting diodes (LEDs), in collaboration with Prof. R.H. Friend and Dr. F. Cacialli in the Cavendish Laboratory (University of Cambridge). Preliminary results indicate that insulation of the conjugated polymer backbone can result in a dramatic enhancement in the photo-luminescence and electro luminescence.
Fields of science
Topic(s)
Data not availableCall for proposal
Data not availableFunding Scheme
RGI - Research grants (individual fellowships)Coordinator
OX1 3QY OXFORD
United Kingdom