Project Details
Projekt
Self-healing of conjugated polymers - Synthesis, Mechanistic Studies and Photophysical Properties
Subject Area
Polymer Materials
Physical Chemistry of Solids and Surfaces, Material Characterisation
Physical Chemistry of Solids and Surfaces, Material Characterisation
Term
from 2014 to 2019
Project identifier
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 259443057
Self-healing polymers feature the unique property that their original functionality can be restored after a damage event. In recent years, many approaches have been investigated, which allow the healing of mechanical damage; i.e., the original mechanical properties are (partially) restored. However, the research on self-healing of other properties (e.g., optical properties, electronic conductivity) is still in its infancy. In this context this cooperation projects aims at the synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of reversibly linked conjugated oligomers/polymers, which in perspective could allow for the realization of self-healing polymers for optoelectronic applications. The targeted holistic approach followed in this project aims not only at the synthesis and spectroscopic characterization of reversibly linked conjugated oligomers/polymers but furthermore at deriving a mechanistic understanding of the self-healing processes in polymer films based on such materials. Novel reversibly linked conjugated polymers based on different conjugated oligomers will be synthesized. The reversible crosslinker will be varied in order to obtain functional groups, which are orthogonal to the degradation products, and to tune the required healing temperature. Subsequently, the photoinduced exciton dynamics of these materials will be investigated in solution and in by time-resolved spectroscopy. Polymer films will be aged under controlled conditions either by UV irradiation and/or by oxidation in the presence of ambient air, thus mimicking the one of the most prevalent degradation pathways of polymers in organic electronic devices. The self-healing of the optical properties of the aged materials will be investigated after temperature treatment (globally or by zone annealing). Thereby the photoinduced exciton dynamics will be introduced as a metric for aging and subsequent self-healing and transient absorption microscopy is introduced to the field of self-healing polymer research. By studying the exciton dynamics in the novel materials, i.e. in the virgin materials, the aged and the healed materials, this project does not (only) consider structural aspects of self-healing but focusses on describing the effect of aging and self-healing on the function of these polymeric materials. Thereby, the work proposed will contribute to extending the focus of the priority program SPP 1568 Design and Generic principles of Self-healing Materials towards the healing of functional materials.
DFG Programme
Priority Programmes
