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These materials exhibit promising potential for applications in solar energy conversion as photocatalysts for water splitting and carbon dioxide reduction, sensors, polymer-supported electrodes, nonlinear optics, and electroluminescence.

In addition to their photocatalytic effect, we also study other physical properties of polymer metal complexes, such as photorefractive effects, photoconductivity, light emission and novel redox properties. Our method toward this goal is the development of photocatalysts based on semiconducting polymers chelated with transition metals. Light-induced splitting of water into oxygen and hydrogen is the most attractive approach not only because it can provide one potential solution to the world’s ever-increasing energy demands, but also because the resulting fuel is environmentally benign. In addition to photovoltaics, one approach to convert sunlight into usable forms of energy, is to utilize solar energy to photo-catalytically convert inert chemicals, such as water and carbon dioxide, into energy-rich, storable chemical fuels. Photocatalysts for water splitting based on functional poymers containing metal complexes and nanoporous polymers.Chiral polymers and heterohelicenes. This project concerns the effect of chirality of polymers on their properties, such as electron-optic properties and self-assembly.In addition to designing functional materials, approaches to optimizing light conversion are pursued through device engineering and the optimization of processing conditions, including plasmonic enhancement of light absorption, nanotubes for increased charge transport, and ternary blend solar cells. Extensive effort is devoted to the characterization of these new materials with regard to their structural and photophysical properties. We are developing state of art materials for both fundamental studies and device optimization. b) n-Type semiconductors as electron-acceptors. a) p-Type low bandgap semiconducting polymers both linear and two-dimensional. Two types of molecules are being designed and synthesized. Our group is engaged in developing low bandgap materials that can efficiently harvest and convert solar energy into electricity. Ladder polymer chemistry that allows syntheses of ladder types of heteroacenes and heterohelicenes.Exploring new polycondensation reactions (C-H bond activation reactions) as an alternative method to the Stille reaction.

Living ring-opening polymerization for the synthesis of biocompatible polyesters.

Palladium-mediated coupling reactions (The Heck reaction, the Stille coupling reaction) for polycondensation.

We are especially interested in exploring reactions that require mild reaction conditions for syntheses of functional polymers and materials. Our overarching philosophy is the exploration of the relationships between chemical structure and resulting properties so as to facilitate discovery of new materials for organic solar cells, organic electronics, water splitting, and other practical applications. My research is focused on the intersection of organic chemistry and materials science with emphasis on the synthesis and understanding of organic materials with well-controlled electronic and optical properties.