Synthesis and Characterization of Novel Polymers

Elizabeth M. SanfordAssociate Professor

Chemistry

sanford@hope.edu

Photograph

A.B., Smith College, 1987Ph.D., University of California, Los Angeles, 1992NSF Postdoctoral Fellow, Cornell University, 1994Area of expertise: Organic and polymer chemistry

Our group synthesizes new polymers based on poly(phenylenevinylene) and pyrylium salts to use in devices such as light-emitting electrochemical cells (LEC’s).

n R= phenyl

OO

R

R

R

R

•2BF4

PPV pyrylium

ITO Al

*

*

*

*

*

*

oxidized material

"hole"

reduced material

electrons or "carriers"

electrolyte--anions and cations

light generated when electrons and holes combine

ITO=indium tin oxide, Al=aluminum

A Typical LEC Design

E. M. Sanford, H. L. Hermann, “Bromination, Elimination and Polymeriztion: A 3-Step for the Preparation of Polystyrene from Ethylbenzene,” J. Chem. Ed., 2000, 77, 1343-1344.E. M. Sanford, A. L. Perkins, B. Tang, A. M. Kubasiak, J. T. Reeves, K. W. Paulisse,”A Comparison of 1,4-Bis(halomethyl)benzenes as Monomers for the Modified Gilch Route to Poly[2-methoxy-5-((2’-ethylhexyl)-oxy)p-phenylenevinylene],” Chem. Comm., 1999, 23, 2347-2348.E. M. Sanford, K. W. Paulisse, J. T. Reeves, “A Computational Study of 2,5-Dibenzylidenecyclopentanone and 2,6-Dibenzylidenecyclohexanone, Model Compounds for Poly(arylidenecycloalkanones),” J. Appl. Poly. Sci., 1999, 74, 2255-2257.

Petroleum Research Fund SRF, “Low Band-Gap, n-Dopable Conjugated Oligomers and Polymers,” 2005

Brookstra Faculty Development Grant, “Surface Modification with Synthetic Polymers for Control of Cell Adhesion and Growth,” 2005

HRSA Equipment Grant--Inverted microscope and digital camera, 2005

NSF Early CAREER Award, 1997

Acknowledgments: Dr. T. Guarr, Gentex Corporation and Dr. M. DavidCurtis, University of Michigan, NSF-REU, HHMI