In this webcast, Prof. Alex Zhukhovitskiy will describe the molecular weight characterization of conjugated polymers using gel-permeation chromatography with multi-angle light scattering (GPC-MALS) and viscometry. A brief overview of MALS with viscometry will be given.

The Zhukhovitskiy group is developing a universal methodology for the controlled synthesis of conjugated polymers that span the spectrum of electronic properties. The ability to accurately determine the relationship between the monomer conversion or monomer: catalyst ratio, the molecular weight, and the dispersity of the polymer is essential for a successful program. While GPC-MALS is the state-of-the-art technique to measure absolute molecular weights of polymers, it can yield erroneous results for conjugated polymers which absorb the MALS laser beam and/or fluoresce under excitation by the MALS laser. Additional data from online viscometry is employed to make informed decisions about the significance of these deviations, and to validate the conclusions.

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