Grant: Collaborative Research and Development Grants

This 2-year NSERC CRD project aims to expand the utility of a new class of phosphorus-based crosslinked polymers, the phosphane-ene polymer network "Capturephos". Making and assessing the properties of the bulk polymer has been relatively straightforward but understanding the potential of these materials as an ultrathin, uniform coating on a substrate is completely unknown and requires a focused investigation. The new application, which requires a new synthesis method, is to use the ability of the phosphine centres in the polymer to capture oxygen. This will make CapturPhos an effective encapsulation material for electronics (typically called the "electronic package"). Due to its robust crosslinked nature and its inherent flexibility, CapturPhos is an excellent barrier material for flexible electronics. To integrate fully, this polymer should be made from the gas phase and assemble at a targeted surface. The research team will embark on a campaign to (i) Prepare unique phosphines targeting low vapour pressure and maximum crosslinking in a resulting polymer film and the assessment of their suitability molecular layer deposition (MLD) processes. This will also include a survey of commercially primary phosphines; (ii) Utilize these phosphines with polyolefin reaction partners in an MLD process to deposit thin films (10-100 nm) of CapturePhos; (iii) Fully characterize the deposited films to assess thickness, uniformity and P content; (iv) to promote selective area deposition with surface treatments using vinyl carboxylic acids (for oxide surfaces) and vinyl carbenes (for metal surfaces) (v) Compare flat and selective-area patterned substrates for their overall O2 uptake and O2 transmission properties. The results from this work aim to develop a new approach to barrier coatings for next generation, flexible electronic devices (Organic light emitting diodes (OLED); Organic photovoltaics (OPV)). The proposed development will be carried out with the support of two global business units within the Solvay Group, Solvay Specialty Polymers and Solvay-Cytec (Cytec Canada).