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Intellectual Merit: New Conjugated Polymers Based on Benzobisazoles. Malika Jeffries-EL, Iowa State University, DMR 0846607.
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Intellectual Merit: New Conjugated Polymers Based on Benzobisazoles.Malika Jeffries-EL, Iowa State University, DMR 0846607 Our research program focuses on the development of new π-conjugated organic materials with desirable properties such as solubility in aprotic organic solvents and variable energy levels as a function of substitution. During the first year of our program we have synthesized new, emissive polymers using novel benzobisazole building blocks designed in our labs. These polymers exhibit high electron-affinities and good solubility and are thus promising materials for organic semiconducting applications. Currently we are exploring the use of these materials in photovoltaic cells and light-emitting diodes. The development of additional polymers is also ongoing. Mike, J. F.; Makowski, A. J.; Jeffries-EL, M. Org. Lett. 2008, 10, 4915-4918. Mike, J. F.; Makowski, A. J.; Mauldin, T. C.; Jeffries-El, M. J. Poly. Sci. A. 2010, 48, 1456-1460. Synthesis of poly (arylenevinylene benzobisazoles) (top and middle). Inset shows LUMO and HOMO levels. Solutions of all six polymers under UV- light (454 nm) (bottom).
Broader Impacts. Malika Jeffries-EL, Iowa State University, DMR 0846607 To increase interest in polymer science within students in grades 8-12, I have developed a new outreach effort called the Chemistry Ambassadors program. To accomplish the goals of this program I have partnered with Science Bound (SB), ISU’s precollege program for preparing URM students to pursue and earn degrees in STEM fields. We have also obtained financial support for the program from the Dreyfus foundation special program in the chemical sciences. In their first year, the Chemistry Ambassadors visited a half dozen schools and interacted with over 300 students. Chemistry Ambassadors help high school students with a hydrogel project. • This grant also supported 2 graduate students and 1-undergraduate student. • Both graduate students presented their research at the Functional π-Conjugated Materials Symposia (Fpi9) this past May.