This starter grant award to Kansas State University supports the research of Professor Daniel A. Higgins. The research focusses on the fundamental physical and chemical properties of mesostructured materials as studied by near-field scanning optical microscopy. Thin films of polymer-dispersed electrochromic materials including phthalocyanin-based materials are studied. Film morphology is characterized and its effects on local organization of the electrochromic molecules are elucidated. Since local properties of these inherently mesostructured films are dramatically different from their average properties, the research promises to provide a better understanding of these and other highly structured materials. From a technological perspective, polymer-dispersed materials are being developed for diverse applications in optics, display, detector, and data storage technologies, as well as in catalysis. The research contributes to the advancement of these technologies.
