Nanocrystal-based luminescent solar concentrators (LSCs) offer an attractive approach to preparing devices which collect and convert solar energy. The ligand environment of the nanocrystals in a LSC provides an opportunity to optimize the photophysical behavior of these devices. Our strategy is to prepare thiol and carboxylate ligands with ω-terminal functional groups that can be quickly and easily elaborated to compounds with the desired reactive or photophysical properties. We have synthesized and characterized ligands with thiol or carboxylate groups and a ω-terminal azide group. The thiol ligands prepared have the general formula HSCH2(CH2)nCH2N3, where n = 4, 6, 9. The carboxylate ligands prepared have the general formula HO2CCH2(CH2)nCH2N3, where n = 3, 5, 7, 9. The different carbon chain lengths in the ligands will allow us to explore the design features for optimizing nanocrystal behavior in the LSCs. In addition, we have synthesized a family of perylenebisimide (PBI) compounds, which can function as antennae for the absorption of sunlight, followed by electron or energy transfer to the nanocrystal in the LSC. The PBI compounds in this work all contain a ω-terminal alkyne group, which can be used in copper-assisted 1,3-Huisgen cycloaddition “click” reactions for attachment to azide-terminated thiol or carboxylate ligands.

Synthesis of organic ligands for improving the behavior of luminescent solar concentrators

255th National Meeting (2018)

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