Research Projects

The main scientific objective of this project is to implement newer and better synthetic approach towards incorporation of N=N and C=N functionalities in a π-conjugated organic polymer backbone for getting hands on conductive azo-azomethine polymers with multi-stimuli response. Organic conjugated polymers show excellent conductivity in doped state and have extensive application in the area of organic semiconductors, OLEDs, sensors, solar cells, etc. Replacement of a conventional C=C bond in the conjugated organic polymer backbone with a chromophor like N=N or C=N is a great strategy to (a) alter the band gap of the conjugated polymer and (b) impart unique opto-electronic properties to the conjugated polymer and access multifunctional materials. In spite of a huge development in the chemistry of polyazo and polyazomethines based conjugated polymers and their applications, the literature reports on conjugated azo-azomethine polymers are really scarce. This class of conjugated azo-azomethines polymers, if achieved with proper methodology, would open a huge window of opportunity towards new category of conjugated organic polymers with altered opto-electronics and multi-stimuli response. Against this backdrop, this project will contribute to synthesis of conjugated azo-azomethine polymers via modular substrate design. Conventional synthesis of poly-azomethines is achieved through either poly-condensation reaction between bis-aldehyde and bis-amine or via oligomerisation of an amino-aldehyde under reflux condition. Herein, this project is based on designing of noble conjugated aromatic bis-amines and bis-aldehydes having one or more azo (N=N) functionalities imparted in their π-backbone. Similar approaches will also be taken for synthesizing conjugated aromatic amino-aldehydes with azo functionalities. Later on, the targeted azo-azomethine polymers would be accessed through the corresponding condensation reactions. In addition to the polymers, azo-azomethine based monomeric conjugated macromolecules with chemosensitive NLO-response would also be targeted, using the same synthetic approach. The targeted conjugated azo-azomethine polymers would present us with a great deal of opportunity for application as organic semiconductor, Light Emitting Diodes, Solar Cells and their stimuli-responsive emission alteration would help us to generate a new generation of chemo-sensors and smart molecular devices. These conducting polymers can also be made fire resistant through proper modulation of the side chains which would significantly reduce fire hazards during their application in opto-electronic devices. And finally, the azo-azomethine based monomeric conjugated macromolecules can be of great use in developing materials with stimuli-induced NLO-response alteration, again a potential candidate for smart molecular devices.