faculty

Associate Professor of Chemistry
Ph.D., University of California-berkeley

Organic, Polymers/Organic Materials

Phone: (734) 615-6627      
E-mail: matzger@umich.edu

Our research program utilizes organic synthesis to make polymers and organized assemblies. Targets are chosen for their potential to have novel properties and methodology development is a critical component of all efforts. Three major research thrusts are: Conjugated polymers. Cascade radical cyclizations for the production of planarized polythiophenes, polypyrroles, and other heteroatom containing conjugated polymers have been developed. These materials possess novel properties when compared to systems lacking planar structural constraints. The effect of this perturbation on the conductivity and electro-optical properties of these polymers are being explored. Ultimate application in organic light emitting diodes (OLED's) and other devices are underway.

Physisorbed monolayers. Highly organized monolayers can be obtained by the spontaneous self-assembly, under atmospheric conditions, of molecules containing long segments of methylene groups. The imaging of these adsorbates with submolecular resolution is possible with scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) which allows for an exquisitely detailed understanding of their arrangement and constitution. Use of this knowledge in the design of structurally more complex layers will allow control of surface properties (oxidation, corrosion, hydrophobicity, etc.) and correlation of these bulk properties with organization at the molecular level.

Controlling crystal polymorphism. The ability of molecules to crystallize in more than one arrangement in the solid state has serious implications for a variety of applications including nonlinear optics, solid state reactivity, and pharmaceutical distribution. We are developing techniques to control the process of crystallization in a general fashion with the goal of making materials with improved functionality. Combinational materials chemistry plays a vital role in these efforts.

AWARDS

• 2005 Alfred P. Sloan Fellowship
• 2003 Beckman Foundation Young Investigator Award
• Ralph E. Power Junior Faculty Enhancement Award
• 3M Nontenured Faculty Award

REPRESENTATIVE PUBLICATIONS

1. Chae, H. K.; Siberio-Perez, D. Y.; Kim, J.; Go, Y-B; Eddaoudi, M.; Matzger, A. J.; O'Keeffe, M.; Yaghi, O. M., "A Route to High Surface Area, Porosity and Inclusion of Large Molecules in Crystals," Nature, 2004, 427, 523-527.
2. Plass, K. E.; Kim, K.; Matzger, A. J., ”Two-Dimensional Crystallization: Self-Assembly, Pseudopolymorphism, and Symmetry-Independent Molecules”, J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2004, 126, 9042-9053.
3. Price, C. P.; Grzeiak, A. L.; Matzger, A. J., "Polymer Heteronucleation for Crystalline Polymorph Selection and Discovery," J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2005, 127, 5512-5517.
4. Lewis, K. D.; Matzger, A. J., "Bergman Cyclization of Sterically Hindered Substrates and Observation of Phenyl-Shifted Products," J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2005, 127, 9968-9969.
5. Zhang, X.; Côté, A. P.; Matzger, A. J., "Synthesis and Structure of Fused α-Oligothiophenes with up to Seven Rings," J. Am. Chem. Soc., 2005, 127, 10502-10503.