The current research interests are focused both in the field of functional organic materials and in developing thermally and photochemically generated reactive species with a potential application in cross-linking of polymers and biomacromolecules.

The first line involves the planning and synthesis of new organic molecular and or polymeric organic semiconductors as active components in different type of devices such as, for example, Field Effect Transistors (OFETs), Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs) Photovoltaics cells (OPVs) and organic-based water photosplitting systems. Within this field, recently the interest has been focused on organic heterocycle-based n-semiconductors as tetracene based p-type ones.

• p-type semiconductors. Strategies for the preparation of p-type semiconductors such as oligothiophenes and tetracenes, starting from the suitable commercially available or on purpose prepared precursors, are planned and realized. Polymeric semiconductors, including Donor-Acceptor ones, are prepared by cross-coupling reaction using transition metal catalysts (Still and Suzuki protocols) from suitable electron-rich and electro-deficient monomers.
• n-type semiconductors. The introduction of fluorine atoms into aromatic and heteroaromatic systems is the strategy used for preparing n-type semiconductors such as polyfluoroacridine and polyfluorophenazines and polymers containing these units. The starting polyfluorinated-acridines and phenazine are accessible from commercially available polyfluorinated anilines and ketones. It is noteworthy that perfluorinated phenazines show very low HOMOs and LUMOs and, for these properties, proposed in photooxidation processes of water.
  Parallel to these research activities, the synthesis of bromo containing polycyclic aromatic are prepared for conducting thermally activated Ullmann-like cross coupling reaction onto the surface of Cu, Ag and Au crystals. These processes will allow to realize graphenic structures on the surface of these crystals.

The second research line is addressed to synthesize molecules or to develop new organic systemsable to produce, thermally and photochemically, highly reactive species (carbenes and nitrilimines).
These species are involved in cross-linking processes of protein-base biomolecules or polymeric materials.

Prof. Antonio Papagni

U5 Building, 2nd Floor, Room 2045