Presenter(s): Eric Strand
Faculty Mentor(s): Michael Haley & Joshua Barker
Poster 51
Session: Sciences
The Haley Lab is interested in the synthesis and characterization of organic hydrocarbon scaffolds which can be used as semiconductors. The family of indenofluorene hydrocarbons exhibit unique electronic properties such as antiaromaticity and diradical character, which contribute to their allure for scientists. Our lab has developed highly modular synthetic routes toward many analogues of this parent scaffold, which can be further optimized through subtle synthetic tuning. Our ultimate goal is to create a library of analogues with tuned electronic characteristics such that we may identify the most promising candidates for device implementation. Fusing a variety of aryl moieties onto the parent scaffold allows for this by decreasing the HOMO-LUMO energy gap and subsequently improvement in electron mobility and conductivity. Initially focused on proving the diradical character in an analogue of indenoindenodibenzothiopene, our current project has successfully shown this by reacting the molecule through a known radical degradation pathway.
Our studies into indenofluorenes have shown promise in regard to the ability of these molecules to serve as potential replacements for current inorganic counterparts within devices. Continuous fundamental studies into the electronic abilities of these molecules will help to elucidate the ideal characteristics of organic semiconductors, which is imperative for the feasible implementation of these molecules into devices. This project is now focused on the optimization of previous synthetic routes such that further studies into these highly interesting molecules can be carried out.