Kirsten Knowles
Pronouns: she/her
Research Mentor(s): Richard Laine
Co-Presenter:
Research Mentor School/College/Department: Materials Science and Engineering / Engineering
Presentation Date: April 20
Presentation Type: Poster
Session: Session 3 – 1:40pm – 2:30 pm
Room: League Ballroom
Authors: Kirsten Knowles, Zijing Zhang, Richard Laine
Presenter: 109
Abstract
Alternating terpolymers containing thiophene and phenyl based groups can be synthesized utilizing a heck reaction. Individual thiophene system polymers exhibit high emission wavelengths. Individual phenyl system polymers exhibit high quantum yield. The goal is to tune the products to contain qualities of both the thiophene systems and the phenyl systems. It is first necessary to isolate the thiophene based dimers from monomers, and trimers utilizing column chromatography. The heck reaction can then be performed by reacting the thiophene dimer systems and phenyl systems. Examples of thiophene dimer systems we have used include DD-bithiophene-DD and DD-hexylthiophene-DD. For the phenyl system, a dibromo phenyl system is used. For each reaction with a thiophene dimer system, we have used dibromobenzene, dibromobiphenyl, dibromoterphenyl, and dibromostilbene. In our previous work, these reactions have been carried out utilizing a Schlenk Flask at 70? and atmospheric pressure. In our reactions we are conducting the reactions at higher temperature and pressure with less solvent and higher concentrations. In order to determine success of each reaction, many different characterization techniques are used including gel permeation chromatography (GPC) and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Results include successful synthesis of the alternating terpolymer. Absorption spectroscopy and emission spectroscopy are used to determine if there are high emission wavelengths as desired. We have found from the absorption spectroscopy there is no ground state Highest Occupied Molecular Orbital (HOMO) interaction, and from the emission spectroscopy there is evidence of interaction of Lowest Unoccupied Molecular Orbitals (LUMO) between the double deckers.
Engineering
