Influence of grafting density, temperature, and reaction conditions on the distribution of reactive dye molecules within polymer brushes

The long-range transport of energy is an ongoing and non-facile, scientific challenge. Our approach to address this challenge is to harness the physical phenomena known as strong coupling, which has the potential to allow transport of energy (electron-hole pairs) over the nm to mm range. Crucial to realising this approach is the anchoring and orientating pigments in 3D at interfaces. We have shown that polymer brushes can act as scaffolds for several dye molecules. Various techniques have shown the presence of the dyes and spectroscopic techniques have allowed for characterisation of the optical properties of the system. However, a paucity exists in our understanding of the spatial distribution of the dyes at the interface. Further, we wish to understand how the properties of the film can be programmed by regulating the polymer scaffold parameters as well as the environmental conditions.