| EPSRC Reference: |
EP/J01981X/1 |
| Title: |
Towards Insulated Molecular Wires to Order: The Active Template Approach to Conjugated Rotaxanes |
| Principal Investigator: |
Goldup, Professor SM |
| Other Investigators: |
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| Researcher Co-Investigators: |
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| Project Partners: |
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| Department: |
Sch of Biological and Chemical Sciences |
| Organisation: |
Queen Mary University of London |
| Scheme: |
First Grant - Revised 2009 |
| Starts: |
24 July 2012 |
Ends: |
23 July 2014 |
Value (£): |
100,240
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| EPSRC Research Topic Classifications: |
| Chemical Synthetic Methodology |
Materials Characterisation |
| Materials Synthesis & Growth |
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| EPSRC Industrial Sector Classifications: |
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| Panel History: |
| Panel Date | Panel Name | Outcome |
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18 Apr 2012
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EPSRC Physical Sciences Materials - April
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Announced
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Summary on Grant Application Form |
Plastic electronics, electronic materials that are based on polymers, hold the promise of light weight, low power, cheap, versatile and mechanically flexible electronic devices, applications of which include flexible displays and wearable electronics based on circuits which can be printed using bubblejet printer technology. However, electrically conducting polymers (sometimes called molecular wires, MWs) are often unstable when operated the presence of air or moisture and can deteriorate due to interactions between the polymer chains. These drawbacks currently hinder the development of new commercial plastic electronic devices.
One approach which has been developed to help overcome these problems is to wrap the conjugated polymer in an insulating sheath, much as macroscopic wires are insulated using a rubber or plastic coating to prevent degradation and short circuits. These insulated molecular wires (IMWs) can be made by threading the conjugated polymer through the cavity of ring shaped molecules, to create a threaded structure, reminiscent of a bead on a thread, known as a poly-rotaxane (from rota, meaning wheel, and axel). This method has been shown to be extremely beneficial, dramatically improving the stability and properties of the conjugated polymer.
However, the existing methods for the synthesis of such poly-rotaxanes are currently extremely limited, hindering the development of these exciting materials. Our proposed research will greatly increase the availability of poly-rotaxane IMWs and will in the long term allow any polymer to be insulated with any macrocycle quickly and efficiently.
Ultimately, as a result of the proposed work we will be able to create designer insulated molecular wires to order, potentially revolutionising the use of these novel materials for plastic electronic devices.
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Key Findings |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Potential use in non-academic contexts |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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Impacts |
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| Description |
This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk |
| Summary |
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| Date Materialised |
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Sectors submitted by the Researcher |
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This information can now be found on Gateway to Research (GtR) http://gtr.rcuk.ac.uk
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