This award is made by the Divisions of Chemistry, Materials Research and Electrical and Communications Systems under the Materials Synthesis and Processing Initiative. The research will apply ring-opening metathesis polymerization to the synthesis of block copolymers having polyene or other electroactive microdomains. A goal will be the synthesis of quantum dots by morphology control of conjugated co-polymer blends. Stretch-orientation of quantum dots is expected to form quantum lines with useful anisotropic optical properties. These may find application as molecule-based optical gratings. Interfaces between inorganic semiconductors and doped conjugated polymers will also be evaluated as junctions and Schottky barrier devices. %%% Ring opening metathesis routes to conjugated polymers will provide new materials with novel mechanical, physical, optical and electrical properties.
