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1. Polyoxometalate-Containing Diblock Copolymers: Synthesis, Self-Assembly, and ApplicationsZhonghuaPeng, University of Missouri–Kansas City, DMR 0804158 The objectives of this project are to prepare POM-containing diblock copolymers, study their self-assembled morphologies, and explore their applications as new photovoltaic materials. During the past year, we have successfully prepared two types of POM-containing rod-coil diblock copolymers as shown in Figure 1 and studied their phase-separated morphologies. We have shown that the film morphologies (figure 2) and solution self-assembly behavior (figure 3) are solvent dependent. Photovoltaic devices based on PS-PT1 show an efficiency of 0.37% (Figure 4). We are currently fabricating PV devices based on PS-Mo6-PT. In addition to POM clusters, we have expanded our hybrid diblock copolymer research to include semiconducting nanoparticles (SNPs). We have shown for the first time that simple mechanical alloying (MA) can be used to prepare uncapped ternary CdSe1-xSxnanocrystals through the entire composition range(figure 5). Our next step is to incorporate SNPs into diblock copolymers. 1) 2) 3) 4) 5) 1) Structures of POM-containing rod-coil diblock copolymers; 2) Conductivity images of films spin-coated from different solvents; 3) Solution self-assembly behavior ; 4) Photovoltaic device performance based on PS-PT1. 5) absorption spectra of CdSexS1-x nanoparticles.

2. Polyoxometalate-Containing Diblock Copolymers: Synthesis, Self-Assembly, and ApplicationsZhonghua Peng, University of Missouri–Kansas City, DMR 0804158 Education: Four graduate students (Sanjiban Chakraborty, Shaohua Li, Lu Jin, and Chingen Chou) and two undergraduates (TrieuDo, and Mayurkumar Patel) participated in the project during the past year. Collaborations with Dr. Anna Proust (POM cluster synthesis) of Univ. Paris, Dr. Tianbo Liu (solution self-assembly) of Lehigh University, Dr. Xingzhong Yan (device fabrication) of South Dakota State University have been established. Durontez Washington (right, summer 2010) and Trieu Do (summer 2011) doing experiments in the lab. Outreach: The PI has continued to serve as a mentor during the “Meet the Mentor Day” organized by Science Pioneers, Inc. The PI, serving as the chair-elect of the local ACS section has helped in planning and organizing various activities (science fair, chemistry Olympiad, etc.) One high school chemistry teacher, Ms. Jessica Robinson, has been supported by this grant to gain first-hand experience in the lab during summer months (8 weeks) of 2011.