Synthesis and Characterization of 2-D Conjungated Organic Polymers: The Electrochemical Approach

The proposed research covers the areas of organic chemistry, surface science and nanoscience. Classical polymerization of organic molecules involves two reactive sites of a monomer, yielding one-dimensional polymer chains. Even when multiple reactive sites are involved, the resulting polymer has a disordered 3D structure e.g., hyperbranched polymers of dendrimers due to conformational freedom and internal strain of the oligomeric intermediates. The need for well-ordered organic polymers for electronic applications and nanotechnology in general stimulates the search for novel approaches to polymerization. The goal is to develop two-dimensional conjugated organic polymers, which currently do not exist. The bulk structure of these organic 2D polymers is expected to resemble that of graphite, with well-defined covalently assembled planar sheets separated by a stacking distance. Electronic conjugation, spread in two directions, and a high degree of order are expected to confer special electronic properties low bang gap, high charge mobility, high charge storage capacity, sensing capabilities with ultralow detection limit, etc. to these materials, which should also be very robust as for organics. Such advanced polymeric materials will have a variety of applications of interest for the Air Force, for example in the development of novel aircraft and rocket components.