Prof. Ronald K. Castellano (University of Florida)

July 9, 2014
Categories: Events, General Event

Event Date:
February 10, 2014 – 4:00 PM to February 11, 2014 – 4:59 PM

Location:
Bursonn 115

Event Date:
February 10, 2014 – 4:00 PM to February 11, 2014 – 4:59 PM

Location:
Bursonn 115

Seminar Series

Spring 2014

Prof. Ronald K Castellano
University of Florida

“Mutually Tuning Optoelectronic and Supramolecular Structures in π-Systems”

Abstract:

π-Conjugated organic molecules are extensively studied frameworks for applications in light emission, solar energy conversion, and organic electronics. It remains a challenge to mutually tune/optimize the optoelectronic properties and supramolecular structures of these materials through rational molecular design. Several projects in our lab are directed along these lines, and at least two will be presented. In one, we have developed synthetic approaches to π-conjugated oligomers bearing embedded nucleobase monomers. These heterocycles, otherwise recognizable from DNA and RNA, are constituents of the π-system and allow fine-tuning of oligomer photophysical properties (absorption and fluorescence) and electronic structure in a base-dependent way. They also are targeted to serve as “information-rich” subunits capable of pairwise H-bonded assembly in the solid state. A second project is a systematic molecular structure-property relationship study to evaluate the consequences of H-bonding interactions between “retrofitted” molecular electron donors on performance in small-molecule bulk heterojunction organic photovoltaic devices. H-bond “active” donors have been prepared that form cyclic non-covalent assemblies in solution and on surfaces; the H-bonding persists in blended (with C60) films. Photovoltaic devices made from blends of the self-assembling donors with C60 show more than two-fold enhancement in power conversion efficiency relative to control compounds with H-bonding “turned off”.

Bio:

B.S. 1995, Gettysburg College; Ph.D. 2000, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; NSF Postdoctoral Fellow 2000-2002, Swiss Federal Institute of Technology (ETH); Assistant Professor 2002-2009, Associate Professor 2009-, University of Florida; Research Corporation Research Innovation Award 2003; NSF CAREER Award 2006; Chair of the Florida Section of the American Chemical Society, 2007-2009; HHMI Science for Life Distinguished Mentor, 2011-2013; Research Corporation Scialog Fellow, 2011-; Head, Organic Division 2012-; IUPAC Young Observer, 2013.

Monday, February 10, 2014 @ 4:00 PM in Burson 115