This renewal project, supported in the Analytical and Surface Chemistry Program, focusses on the synthesis and characterization of metal containing polymers that exhibit novel electron transfer and electrocatalytic properties. Professor Elliott and his students at Colorado State University will pursue work in four areas. The development of electrochemical methods to directly measure the flux of ions in conducting polymers, the use of impedance measurements to evaluate a polypyrrole system as a sensor for chlorocarbons, preparation of fixed redox gradients in polymers and of low-work-function conduction properties in polymer films for practical applications as light emitting diodes, and the preparation of metal complexes in polymers that will exhibit enhanced catalytic activity compared with conventional coordination complexes will be pursued. The synthesis of electroactive polymers that have properties permitting their use in diverse practical areas such as chemical sensors, light emitting diodes, and superior metal centered catalysis will be pursued. Professor Elliott and his students at Colorado State University will employ a wide range of techniques in both the synthetic aspects of this work and in the characterization of the newly prepared polymers. There are exciting prospects for these new materials having real value in numerous areas of analysis and synthesis. New electrochemical methods will be developed and a variety of established electrochemical methods will be used in this work.
