Dr Jenny Pringle from the Ionic Liquids Group at Monash University (Australia)  will be visiting the Centre and the Chemistry Department  on Thursday 22nd July to give a talk entitled "Synthesis of Conducting Polymers in Ionic Liquids, and their Application in Dye-Sensitised Solar Cells" in Room C521 (5th Floor Chemistry) at 10.30 am.

 Research:

This research focuses on the synthesis of electroactive polymers, such as polypyrrole and polythiophene and derivatives, with improved mechanical and electrical properties. This is achieved by electropolymerisation using ionic liquids as both the solvent and the electrolyte. The effect of different ionic liquids on the physical properties of the polymer produced is studied using a range of analytical techniques to elucidate the morphology, chemical structure and mechanical properties of the polymers and thus determine how this relates to the ionic liquid used. We also use solid state NMR techniques to study the incorporation of both anions and cations from different ionic liquids into the polypyrrole. The influence of the nature of the ionic liquid is being investigated using cations such as the imidazolium, pyrrolidinium and phosphonium cations, in combination with anions such as TFSA, PF6 etc. Following the synthesis of the conducting polymers the performance of these materials as actuators and in photovoltaic devices will be assessed.