Conjugated hybrid inorganic-organic polymers for electronic applications

In this dissertation, we undertook the rational design, synthesis, characterization, and application of several different types of supramolecules. The initial focus was to understand the fundamental mechanisms involved in photoinduced electron and energy transfer in biologically significant porphyrin systems. Three model porphyrin polymer systems were synthesized with different extents of electronic communication. The first porphyrin polymer system has a minimal electronic coupling due to the steric hindrance between porphyrin and bridging ligand. This steric hindrance was minimized by the introduction of ethynyl group and thus the electronic coupling is greatly improved in the other two porphyrin polymer systems.; Self-assembled molecular squares have previously been investigated for host-guest interactions and molecular sieves. Our intention was to explore the possible application of these materials to molecular level batteries. Three different bipyridyl derivatives were used as bridging ligands to coordinate 2,2′-bipyridyl platinate complexes at the corners. Cyclic votammetry revealed a correlation of the electrochemical reversibility with the structural flexibility and π-electron conjugation of the bridging ligands.; Polymers also find many applications in the electronic packaging industry. Epoxide polymers are used to secure chips to substrates, as well as mediate differences of coefficients of thermal expansion between these components. However, after a period of time, device fatigue and failure still occurs. In order to prevent this, we sought to understand the chemistry of the flux and encapsulant and determine the possible location of the flux residue after assembly. Chemical compatibility was then pursued through reliability testing on the completed assemblies.