Synthesis and Characterization of Cyclopentadithiophene Based Polyelectrolytes for Organic Thermoelectric Devices

• Grant number: 24/21179-3
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 13, 2025
• End date: July 12, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Physical Sciences and Mathematics - Chemistry - Organic Chemistry
• Principal Investigator: Gregório Couto Faria
• Grantee: Cauan Ferrara Batista
• Supervisor: Bob Schroeder
• Host Institution: Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Carlos , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University College London (UCL), England
• Associated to the scholarship: 23/08058-0 - Application of Advanced Oxidative Processes in the Synthesis of Highly Conductive PEDOT:PSS Inks, BP.IC

Abstract

Conjugated polymers and polyelectrolytes are an important class of polymers used in organic electronics due to their double bonded delocalized backbone. This property allows them to act as semiconductors and their ionic side chains grant solubility in high polarity solvents. Usually, the monomers can be engineered to achieve desired characteristics, for instance water solubility as well as to tune their ionic and electrical conductivities. This project aims to synthesise conjugated polyelectrolytes with controlled solubility and thermoelectrical properties while conducting a thorough characterization of the resulting chains in terms of their molecular structure and physical-chemistry properties. In summary, NMR and FTIR techniques will be used to confirm the molecular structure, while mass spectrometry and size exclusion chromatography to estimate molecular weight. UV-Vis spectroscopy and cyclic voltammetry must be applied to help understanding the optoelectronic properties of the conjugated chain, TGA and DSC to measure their thermal properties and the Seebeck coefficient will be measured to determine some thermoelectric properties.