Investigation of poly(3-hexylthiophene) as an undergraduate lab experiment

CHED 795

David L Hermanson, herm0224@mrs.umn.edu1, Megan L Mekoli, meko0005@mrs.umn.edu2, Jacob H. Melby, melb0082@morris.umn.edu1, and Ted M. Pappenfus, pappe001@morris.umn.edu1. (1) Division of Science and Mathematics, University of Minnesota, Morris, 600 East 4th Street, Morris, MN 56267, (2) Division of Science and Mathematics, University of Minnesota, UMM Mail #1869, 600 E. 4th St., Morris, MN 56267
Experiments have been developed for the synthesis and investigation of poly(3-hexylthiophene) for the undergraduate laboratory. This NSF-funded work is part of a larger effort to integrate conducting polymers across the undergraduate curriculum. Monomers were synthesized and characterized by spectroscopic methods including infrared and NMR. Regio-regular and region-random forms of poly(3-hexylthiophene) were synthesized and then characterized using proton NMR and both solution and solid state UV-Vis spectroscopy. The results from the experiments are consistent with those reported in the literature. Polymers and monomers are also investigated with the use of density functional methods using computational software.
 

Undergraduate Research Poster Session: Polymer Chemistry
11:00 AM-1:00 PM, Monday, March 26, 2007 Hyatt Regency Chicago -- Riverside Center, Poster

Division of Chemical Education

The 233rd ACS National Meeting, Chicago, IL, March 25-29, 2007