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Andrew B. Holmes talks with
ScienceWatch.com and answers a few questions about
this month's Fast Breaking Paper Paper in the field of
Chemistry.
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Article Title: Synthesis of Light-Emitting Conjugated
Polymers for Applications in Electroluminescent
Devices
Authors: Grimsdale, AC;Chan, KL;Martin, RE;Jokisz, PG;Holmes,
AB
Journal: CHEM REV, Volume: 109, Issue: 3, Page: 897-1091, Year:
MAR 2009
* Univ Melbourne, Inst Bio21, Sch Chem, 30 Flemington Rd,
Melbourne, Vic 3010, Australia.
* Univ Melbourne, Inst Bio21, Sch Chem, Melbourne, Vic 3010,
Australia.
* Nanyang Technol Univ, Sch Mat Sci & Engn, Singapore
639798, Singapore.
(addresses have been
truncated.)
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Why do you think your paper is highly
cited?
This is a comprehensive follow-up to our highly-cited review in
Angewandte Chem published in 1998.
Does it describe a new discovery, methodology, or
synthesis of knowledge?
It simply attempts to be comprehensive in the field of synthesis and
properties of conjugated polymers for light-emitting devices, including
solid state lighting and flat panel displays.
Would you summarize the significance of your paper
in layman's terms?
If a thin film of fluorescent conjugated polymer is sandwiched between
charged electrodes, one of which is transparent, application of a bias
voltage across the electrodes causes fluorescence, resulting from charge
recombination in the film as a result of the double charge injection
process.
How did you become involved in this research, and
were there any problems along the way?
Our team at Cambridge formed the Chemistry component of a joint
Physics-Chemistry collaboration that started in 1989 and led to the
discovery of light-emitting polymers in 1990.
Where do you see your research leading in the
future?
If one can inject electric charge into fluorescent polymers and obtain
light out from the charge injection process it should be possible to
reverse the process and use the materials to capture (sun)light and
generate electricity.
This should form the basis of a large-area low-cost flexible solar cells
industry. Many people are already working on this idea around the world.
Do you foresee any social or political
implications for your research?
If significant cost reductions can be realized and device lifetimes
increased, then this technology could play a very important role in the
efforts to switch to renewable energy sources.
Andrew B. Holmes, Ph.D.
Bio21 Molecular Science and Biotechnology Institute
School of Chemistry
The University of Melbourne
Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Web |
Web
KEYWORDS: LANGMUIR-BLODGETT-FILMS; HEAD-TO-TAIL; POLY(P-PHENYLENE VINYLENE)
DERIVATIVES; HIGH-MOLECULAR-WEIGHT; STRUCTURE-PROPERTY RELATIONSHIPS;
P-PHENYLENE-VINYLENE; CHEMICAL-VAPOR-DEPOSITION; ELECTRON-TRANSPORT
MATERIALS; LIQUID-CRYSTALLINE POLYMERS; FLUORENE-BASED COPOLYMERS.
