A graphene nanoribbon has a chiral edge to which a dicarbimide structure is bonded. The dicarbimide structure is an electron-withdrawing group. The width and band gap of the graphene nanoribbon are controlled by a precursor molecule used for a polymerization reaction. Furthermore, n-type operation of the graphene nanoribbon is realized by the dicarbimide structure. In addition, with the graphene nanoribbon, an increase in ribbon length and suppression of a polymerization defect by the stabilization of a reaction intermediate of the precursor molecule, as well as improvement in orientation are realized by the dicarbimide structure.

The disclosure relates generally to black-to-transmissive electrochromic polymers having superior properties such as absorbance of across the entire visible spectrum and an obvious color change from black to transmissive with an applied voltage. The disclosure also relates to methods for synthesizing or using the same. Further, the disclosure also relates to black-to-transmissive electrochromic polymer thin films comprising the black-to-transmissive electrochromic polymers, as well as electrochromic devices comprising the black-to-transmissive electrochromic polymers or thin films.

Embodiments in accordance with the present invention encompass a variety of polymers derived from polycyclic olefin monomers, such as hydrocarbon functionalized norbornenes. The polymers so formed function as ionomers and are suitable as anion exchange membrane for fabricating a variety of electrochemical devices, among others. More specifically, the ionomeric polymers used herein are derived from a variety of quaternized amino functionalized norbornene monomers and are lightly crosslinked (less than ten mol %). The membranes made therefrom exhibit very high ionic conductivity of up to 198 mS/cm at 80 C. This invention also relates to using an anion conducting solid polymer electrolyte as the ion conducting medium between the two electrodes and the ion conducting medium within the electrodes acting as the ionic conduit between electroactive material and electrolyte. The electrochemical devices made in accordance of this invention are useful as fuel cells, gas separators, and the like.

Provided herein are black-to-transmissive electrochromic polymers having superior properties such as absorbance of across the entire visible spectrum and an obvious color change from black to transmissive with an applied voltage. Provided also include methods for synthesizing or using the same. The black-to-transmissive electrochromic polymer thin films may comprise the black-to-transmissive electrochromic polymers, as well as electrochromic devices comprising the black-to-transmissive electrochromic polymers or thin films.

A process includes providing furan-2,5-dicarboxylic dimethyl ester (FDME), reacting the FDME with a Grignard reagent to form a bis-alkylketone furan having R groups selected from the group consisting of a C.sub.1-C.sub.20 linear alkyl chain, a C.sub.2-C.sub.24 branched alkyl chain, and a hydrogen atom. An additional process includes mixing a 3,4-dibrominated bis-alkylketone furan with potassium carbonate, and adding ethyl-mercaptoacetate to the mixture. This process also includes stirring the mixture to form a bis-alkyl-DTF diester fused ring structure, which is then brominated to form a dibromo-DTF compound.

Embodiments in accordance with the present invention encompass a variety of polymers derived from polycyclic olefin monomers, such as hydrocarbon functionalized norbornenes. The polymers so formed function as ionomers and are suitable as anion exchange membrane for fabricating a variety of electrochemical devices, among others. More specifically, the ionomeric polymers used herein are derived from a variety of quaternized amino functionalized norbornene monomers and are lightly crosslinked (less than ten mol %). The membranes made therefrom exhibit very high ionic conductivity of up to 198 mS/cm at 80? C. This invention also relates to using an anion conducting solid polymer electrolyte as the ion conducting medium between the two electrodes and the ion conducting medium within the electrodes acting as the ionic conduit between electroactive material and electrolyte. The electrochemical devices made in accordance of this invention are useful as fuel cells, gas separators, and the like.

A composition for film formation containing a polycyclic polyphenolic resin having repeating units derived from at least one monomer selected from the group consisting of aromatic hydroxy compounds represented by the formulas (1-0), (1A), and (1B), wherein the repeating units are linked by a direct bond between aromatic rings:

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An organic semiconducting donor-acceptor (D-A) small molecule, as well as a semiconductor device that can incorporate the D-A small molecule, are disclosed. The D-A small molecule can have electron deficient substituents and R group substituents that can be C.sub.1-C.sub.20 linear alkyl chains, C.sub.2-C.sub.24 branched alkyl chains, hydrogen atoms, etc. The D-A small molecule can be can be synthesized in a reaction between a dithienofuran (DTF) core monomer and an electron deficient monomer. Additionally, the D-A small molecule can be part of an organic semiconducting copolymer. A semiconductor device that can incorporate the D-A small molecule in a photoactive layer is also disclosed herein. Additionally, 3,4-dibrominated furan compound that can, in some embodiments, be a precursor for the D-A small molecule is disclosed. The 3,4-dibrominated furan compound can be synthesized in a reaction involving a furan-2,5-dicarboxylic dimethyl ester (FDME), which can have a bio-renewable precursor.

A polybenzodifuran ladder polymer is disclosed.

A method for forming an electrochromic device includes: forming a first conducting layer on a first substrate; forming a first electrolyte layer on the first conducting layer; forming a second conducting layer on a second substrate; forming an electrochromic layer on the second conducting layer; forming a second electrolyte layer on the electrochromic layer; and laminating the first substrate and the second substrate such that the first electrolyte layer is in contact with the second electrolyte layer.