The video below provides an overview of the major research focus of our CCI. Click to watch:
The Center for Strategic Design of Conjugated Polymers is a Center for Chemical Innovation (CCI) funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF). Our CCI is a collaborative and synergistic research program that employs teams of synthetic, materials, and theoretical chemists from five partner institutions – The University of Texas at Austin, Columbia University, New York University, Southern Illinois University at Carbondale, and The University of Texas – Pan American – to systematically investigate and optimize the morphology of conjugated polymers at the molecular level for the first time.
Conjugated polymers have enormous technological potential as low-cost, easily processable materials for a diverse set of applications including biomedical sensors, inexpensive solar cells, polymer LEDs, and printable electronics. However, this enormous technological potential will not be extensively realized until the type of understanding that we seek in this CCI has been achieved.
The CCI is a two-phase program. During Phase I, chemists at UT-Austin and Columbia focused on developing the basic tools of our collaborative approach, including the formulation and evaluation of a new framework for defining polymer morphology. Our progress in these efforts is described in detail on the Research Areas page.In addition to research efforts, the CCI is also developing Key Synergistic Elements designed to enhance education, increase participation of underrepresented groups, engage the public, and disseminate our most innovative research results. These education and outreach efforts are supported in part by CCI funds and also leverage existing funding and successful programs at both UT-Austin and Columbia.
If selected for funding by the NSF, Phase II of the CCI will expand to include new partners at both UT-Austin and Columbia, as well as the introduction of three new university partners (SIU, NYU and UTPA). This expanded team of researchers will focus on the adaptation and application of our mixed theoretical and experimental approach toward the optimization of the morphology of a broad range of promising functional materials for various important applications. Phase II will also feature expanded research and education/outreach programs.
