This project will support a program of research on organosilicon polymers. Materials to be synthesized and studied will include (a) new types of polysilanes with properties which may make them useful as fluorescent materials for radiation detection, as electroluminescent materials for display devices, as photoconductors, and as photorefractive materials for holographic data storage; (b) polysiloxanes which will complex alkali metal ions and may be useful as electrolytes in high energy-density batteries; and (c), polymers containing fullerene (C60) molecules which may be superior photoconductors and organic semiconductors. In addition, the electronic properties of polysilanes will be investigated. UV, Raman, NMR and fluorescence spectroscopy, combined with thermal measurements and X-ray crystallography, will be employed to elucidate the effects of conformational change on the properties of polysilanes. %%% This research is in the field of novel, silicon-based materials, which can have important potential applications in the areas of electronic and photonic devices. ***
