Electrochromic Polymers: Transitioning Chemistry to Materials Science and Beyond
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Abstract
Conjugated polymers provide a unique encompassing set of structurally tunable optical, electronic transport, and redox properties that allows their present and potential use in a host of applications which span, field effect transistors, light emitting diodes, electrochromism, solar cells, and photodetectors, along with batteries and supercapacitors. In this lecture, we will address the synthesis and processing of π-conjugated electrochromic polymers (ECPs), as they are considered for reflective display and absorptive/transmissive (window-type) devices. In our work, we address the processing gap that was holding back developments in organic electronics in general, and ECPs specifically. Processing is carried out using a variety of solution methods including spin-coating, spray-coating, blade-coating, slot die coating, screen printing and ink jet printing. The optical absorbance spectra of ECPs can be tuned to yield materials of all colors and demonstrate how structural design and synthesis of fully conjugated polymers, along with mixing in polymer blends, has been used to complete the color palette of ECPs needed for subtractive color mixing. Colorimetric tuning (using the L*a*b* color space) using a combination of electron rich and poor units, in conjunction with employing subtle changes in steric strain or relaxation, allows for the enhancement of the neutral form color vibrancy, and the transmissivity of the oxidized forms.
Bio
Dr. John R. Reynolds is a Professor of Chemistry and Biochemistry, and Materials Science and Engineering at the Georgia Institute of Technology with expertise in polymer chemistry. He serves as a member of the Center for Organic Photonics and Electronics (COPE) and Director of the Georgia Tech Polymer Network (GTPN). His research interests have involved electrically conducting and electroactive conjugated polymers for ~40 years with work focused to the development of new polymers by manipulating their fundamental organic structure in order to control their optoelectronic and redox properties. His group has been heavily involved in developing new polyheterocycles for visible and infrared light electrochromism, along with light emission from polymer and composite LEDs (both visible and near-infrared) and light emitting electrochemical cells (LECs). Further work is directed to using organic polymers and oligomers in charge storing supercapacitors, photovoltaic cells and bio-electronic devices. Reynolds obtained his M.S. (1982) and Ph.D. (1984) degrees from the University of Massachusetts in Polymer Science and Engineering, he has published over 400 peer-reviewed scientific papers, has ~40 patents issued and ~15 patents pending, and serves as co-editor of the “Handbook of Conducting Polymers”. He was awarded the ACS Applied Polymer Science Award in 2012 and is a Fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry and the Materials Research Society. He serves on the editorial board for the journals ACS Applied Materials and Interfaces, Macromolecular Rapid Communications, Polymers for Advanced Technologies, and the Journal of Macromolecular Science, Chemistry. John has been married since October of 1986, has three children, and he and his wife make their home in Dunwoody GA.
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WTHR 104, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN