Nanoscale characterization and property evaluation of 2D polymers synthesized at the air-water interface

Polymers have permeated almost every sphere of modern life, from packaging to drug delivery, from 3D printing to airplanes. They consist of molecular chains in which smaller building blocks are connected via covalent bonds. So what is the next big thing for polymers? The answer lies in the arrival of two-dimensional (2D) materials which have dominated headlines in recent years. Graphene, a single atom thick sheet of carbon isolated at the beginning of the century has several interesting properties and is a valuable material for many applications. The covalent network of graphene extends in 2D unlike conventional polymers where molecular strings extend only in 1D. While graphene research progressed fast in the past decade, challenges associated with its chemical modification have halted its integration in technology. Graphene however, is only the tip of the iceberg. The field of 2D materials is getting crowded and synthetic 2D polymers made by stitching small organic molecules in 2D offer a promising alternative. Unlike known 2D materials, their properties can be readily manipulated using synthetic organic chemistry. In this project the synthesis, nanoscale characterization and property evaluation of different 2D polymers is targeted. The polymers will be synthesized at the air-water interface which will allow their transfer to different solid surfaces thus widening their applicability. The research proposed here will provide access to alternative 2D materials beyond graphene.