Metallopolymers for Conductors, Sensors and Nanocomposites

• Applicant: Dr. Van An Du
• Subject Area: Inorganic Molecular Chemistry - Synthesis and Characterisation
• Term: from 2011 to 2013
• Project identifier: Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) - Project number 212338950

The aim of this project is the synthesis of novel metallopolymers (viz. organic polymers including a main group or transition metal) with conductive properties and for the application as gas sensors. Additionally, the metallopolymers will be tested as precursors for nanoparticle/polymer nanocomposites. In this regard, conductive inner sphere metallopolymers, exhibiting significant overlap between the metal-centered orbitals and the orbitals of the conductive polymer are of special interest.In the first part of this project, the synthesis of novel conductive metallopolymers will be carried out, which contain pincer-type ligands for coordination to different metals (e.g., Fe, Co, Ni). Pincer ligands are chemically stable and form coordinatively saturated and unsaturated complexes with various metals. Suitable synthetic strategies for these novel metallopolymers will be investigated in order to obtain sufficiently high molecular weights and solubility in common organic solvents. Additionally, density functional theory calculations will be performed to elucidate the electronic properties of the obtained metallopolymers.In the second part, the conductivity of the obtained metallopolymers will be tested by cyclic voltammetry, impedance and UV-Vis spectroelectrochemistry measurements. Furthermore, the gas-sensor performance will be evaluated by nuclear magnetic resonance and UV-Vis spectroscopy.In the last part of this project, the synthesized metallopolymers will be used as precursors for nanocomposite formation. Therefore, suitable gases (H2S and NH3) should induce crystal growth at the metal centers in the polymer leading to metal sulfide or nitride nanoparticles in a polymer matrix.

• DFG Programme: Research Fellowships
• International Connection: United Kingdom
• Host: Professor Dr. Ian Manners (†)