Browse Hierarchy QXU6034: Functional Polymers

This module will give students a thorough understanding of the principles of functional behaviour in polymers and their main applications. At the beginning of the module, electronic structure of solids and vibrational behaviour will be reviewed. Key molecular structures and their functions will be studied, such as congugated polymers, blends and liquid crystal behaviour. The module will then focus on key areas for industrial applications: sensors and thin film display materials, conducting polymers and polymer transistors, opto-electronic polymers and organic solar cells, polymers used for energy storage applications and in the micro-electronics area, stimuli responsive polymers that respond to temperature or pH change. Review of electronic structure; Molecular electronic structure; Vibrational structure, Phonons and photons; Functionalization, molecular structures and architectures for different applications; Semiconducting conjugated polymers and applications; Liquid-crystal polymers and their applications; Stimuli responsive polymers and their applications; Topological polymers and their applications