We
are interested in design, synthesis and characterization of organic
optoelectronic materials. In comparison with their inorganic
counterparts, organic optoelectronic materials are much more processing
friendly and offer lower cost and structural versatility. Our research
interests in this area are:
Polymeric photovoltaic materials for solar cells
We are seeking for polymeric photovoltaic materials with high
solar-electric energy conversion efficiencies as the renewable,
environmental-friendly solution to our ever-increasing energy needs.
In order to achieve energy-conversion efficiency high enough to compete
with inorganic photovoltaic materials, we design and synthesize
macromolecules that possess
1. High photon collection efficiency;
2. High charge generation efficiency;
3. High charge-transport and collection efficiency.
Rationally designed polymer materials with precisely engineered
molecular and supramolecular structures will lead to the optimized
photovoltaic properties. For example, we arrange charge transport
materials in well-controlled nano-scaled structures for high
charge-transport and collection efficiencies.
Charge-Transport Liquid Crystals (CTLC)
CTLCs have important applications in organic devices such as field
effect transistors, light emitting diodes and photovoltaic cells. With
combined molecular order and mobility, CTLCs can offer high charge
carrier mobilities as well as flexibility and self-healing ability.
We are interested in CTLCs with stable liquid crystalline phases over a
wide temperature range including room temperature. We apply structural
modification to optimize the electronic/transport properties of CTLCs
for holes and electrons, respectively. The hierachical
structure-property relationship of CTLCs are investigated and utilized
to guide the design of CTLCs with improved properties.
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Synthesis and characterization of highly conjugated, high refractive index polymers for photonic applications
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Synthesis and characterization of low-band gap conducting polymers that
are solution processible, transparent and intrinsically conducting
Polymer Alignment Materials for Liquid Crystals
Polymer alignment materials that provide strong anchoring effect to
liquid crystal molecules for fast-response liquid crystal displays.
