Light-harvesting polymer systems

The parallel goals of understanding natural photosynthesis and of efficiently using solar energy as an alternative to burning fossil fuels to meet human energy needs have led to a substantial, multidisciplinary research effort aimed at preparing artificial systems that can convert solar light to useful chemical energy. Polymers are particularly attractive for this application because new synthetic methods make it possible to prepare systematically derivatized polymer arrays that can collect and convert light energy. There are other reasons as well for investigating these synthetic systems. Light-sensitive polymer arrays might make valuable contributions to the burgeoning areas of heterogeneous catalysis, non-silver-based imaging, information storage, electroresponsive materials for displays and remote sensing, and chemical analysis. Together these possibilities provide substantial incentives to devise and assemble new, more efficient light-harvesting systems and to acquire in the process a better understanding--at a fundamental level--of these systems' molecular and electronic properties.