Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Date of Award

8-1-2022

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Ph.D. in Chemistry

First Advisor

Davita L. Watkins

Second Advisor

Jared H. Delcamp

Third Advisor

James V. Czidziel

School

University of Mississippi

Relational Format

dissertation/thesis

Abstract

The need for intrinsically conducting polymers (ICPs) in industrial applications such as microchips, capacitors, organic solar cells, and printed electronics is wide-ranging and ever-growing. Among many methods to synthesize ICPs, electropolymerization has become a convenient method for creating and characterizing complex organic copolymers having intrinsic electronic conductivity, including the donor (D)-acceptor (A) class of electronically conducting polymers. Electrochemical analysis has proven the unique redox properties of these polymers as thin films. Specifically, ICPs comprised of electron-rich D and electron-deficient A moieties have been shown to possess intrinsic electronic conductivity and unique optical and electronic properties. Herein, we discuss the design, electropolymerization and characterization of D-A ICPs. Atomic ratios of the synthesized materials were calculated experimentally using energy dispersive x-ray (EDX) analysis, confirming the polymers' theoretical composition. SEM shows unique morphologies of the polymer thin films. The discoveries of this study emphasize the importance of using prudent design criteria for polymer thin films with favorable optical and electronic properties for achieving advanced materials with extraordinary applications.

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