1. “Bottom-Up” Design of Nanostructured Conducting Polymer Thin Films Evgueni E. Nesterov, Louisiana State University & Agricultural and Mechanical College, DMR 1006336 Development of efficient and long-lasting organic electronic devices, such as flexible solar cells and light-emitting displays, faces numerous challenges. One of the major challenges is the requirement to precisely control nanoscale organization and molecular structure of the organic semiconducting polymers in thin films. The group of Prof. Nesterov in collaboration with the group of Prof. Jayne C. Garno (LSU) is studying a novel “bottom-up” approach for direct preparation of highly stable thin films of semiconducting polymers with controlled nanoscale morphology by surface-initiated chemical polymerization of small-molecule monomers. A variety of thin films with a broad range of optical and electronic properties can be prepared using the efficient chemistry they have developed. When this method is coupled with surface nanolithography, it yields uniform large-area nanopatterned thin films which can be particularly useful for improving performance of organic solar cells. Preparation of a nanostructured semiconducting polymer thin film through particle lithography and surface-initiated polymerization An AFM image of the surface- attached polythiophene nanopillars on Si(111) surface. Polymer chains are uniformly aligned in the direction of the long axis of each nanopillar Examples of semiconducting polymer films prepared by this method and their light absorption spectra. Tuning the chemical structure enables capture of the broader solar light spectrum to increase efficiency of the photovoltaic cells based on such films

2. Prof. Nesterov as well as graduate and undergraduate students in his research group are actively involved in community outreach, providing regular hands-on demonstrations (typically involving polymers and materials science) to K-12 students and teachers. Students from Baton Rouge area schools are welcome visitors to his research lab where they can learn about science and how scientists work. (Shown to the left: Kindergarten students are excited to experiment with the glovebox in Prof. Nesterov laboratory) “Bottom-Up” Design of Nanostructured Conducting Polymer Thin Films Evgueni E. Nesterov, Louisiana State University & Agricultural and Mechanical College, DMR 1006336 A high-impact extension of outreach activities involves an expansion of the popular LSU ChemDemo program, where LSU undergraduate students visit K-12 schools and perform chemistry and polymer science related presen- tations. With the funding from this NSF-sponsored project, during 2011/12 school year more than 100 LSU students from Prof. Nesterov classes have participated in the program which affected more than 1500 K-12 students, mostly in low-performing schools in Baton Rouge area. (Shown to the right: LSU undergraduate Sonjia Hurst demonstrates preparation of polyurethane foam to a first-grade class at Cedarcrest-Southmoor Elementary school)