Prof. Kirk S. Schanze, University of Florida

Water Soluble Conjugated Polyelectrolytes: Properties and Applications

School of Chemistry and Biochemistry Special Seminar

Conjugated polyelectrolytes (CPE) feature p-conjugated backbones that are functionalized with polar, ionic side chains. These polymers have very strong optical absorptivity due to the conjugated electronic system, and the HOMO-LUMO gap can be controlled by tuning the electronic nature of the monomer units. CPEs are polymer amphiphiles, and consequently they self-assemble in solution into aggregates, and they can be deposited onto surfaces to afford nanostructured films by using the layer-by-layer method.  Due to the p-conjugated backbone, CPEs exhibit photonic properties, exhibiting strong absorption in the visible region and strong fluorescence.  The interaction between the conjugated backbone and the polyions that are linked to the polymer gives the materials “stimuli responsive properties”, wherein the polymer’s optical properties are strongly modulated by the presence of small concentrations of ionic species in solution.  Applications of the polymers in biosensing and solar cells will be discussed

Leading References:

1) Jiang, H. et al. "Conjugated Polyelectrolytes: Synthesis, Photophysics and Applications", Angew. Chem. Int. Ed. Engl. 2009, 48, 2300.

2) Liu, Y. et al.“Conjugated Polyelectrolytes as Fluorescent Sensors”, J. Photochem. Photobiol. C. 2009, 10, 173-190.

For more information contact Prof. Christopher Jones (404-385-1683).

Prof. Schanze website