9731345 Farmer A detailed and systematic study of crystalline and liquid crystalline order in poly(silylenemethylene)s (PSMs), is proposed. By virtue of their structural relationship to the purely organic polyolefins and such inorganic polymers as the polysilanes, polysiloxanes and polyphosphazenes, these hybrid inorganic/organic backbone polymers provide a unique opportunity to examine the effects of the polymer backbone on the structure and properties of linear polymers with structure-directing groups or side chains. This study will employ synthesis methods recently developed in the PI's laboratory to prepare a senes of monosubstituted and symmetrically disubstituted polymers having fluorine, cyano, n-alkyl, alkoxy, aryloxy, and mesogenic side chain substituents. Preliminary work on some of these polymers indicates the existence of novel structural transitions and properties. Prior work on related hybrid polymers provide directions for future synthesis efforts that seem likely to yield new polymers with interesting behavior. These polymers will be examined by a wide range of characterization methods, including x- ray diffraction, optical microscopy, nuclear magnetic resonance and differential scanning calorimetry. The structures and properties of the PSMs will be compared with those of the related organic and inorganic backbone polymers. Molecular modeling methods will also be employed for selected polymers in an effort to provide an understanding of the observed structures and properties and the role of the polymer backbone in determining their behavior. %%% In addition to a better fundamental understanding of structure- property relationships in polymeric materials this study may lead to new functional polymers that may be useful as NLO, electro- optic, and piezoelectric materials in devices for optical storage and processing. ***

Agency
National Science Foundation (NSF)
Institute
Division of Materials Research (DMR)
Application #
9731345
Program Officer
Andrew J. Lovinger
Project Start
Project End
Budget Start
1998-03-01
Budget End
2003-02-28
Support Year
Fiscal Year
1997
Total Cost
$390,000
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Virginia
Department
Type
DUNS #
City
Charlottesville
State
VA
Country
United States
Zip Code
22904