π-Electron Systems

by George Malliaras and John Reynolds

doi:10.1515/ci.2004.26.6.30b

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π-Electron Systems

by George Malliaras and John Reynolds

Published/Copyright: September 1, 2009

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From the journal Chemistry International -- Newsmagazine for IUPAC Volume 26 Issue 6

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Conference Call

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Reports from recent conferences and symposia

See also www.iupac.org/symposia

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π-Electron Systems

by George Malliaras and John Reynolds

The Sixth International Symposium on Functional p-Electron Systems (Fπ6) was held on 14–18 June 2004 at the Cornell University campus, in Ithaca, New York, USA. The symposium was attended by about 500 participants and sponsored by the Kinki Chemical Society of Japan, the Air Force Office of Scientific Research, and the Office of Naval Research.

This symposium series began in 1989 in Osaka, Japan, as the “International Symposium on Functional Dyes.” Past symposia were held in Kobe (Japan, 1992), Santa Cruz (California, 1995), Osaka (Japan, 1999) and Ulm (Germany, 2002). The name of the symposium was changed a few years back to reflect its broadened scope and to align it with recent developments in academic, industrial, and government research institutions.

Polymer LEDS made by Gang Yu, 5" x 5" and 5.1" diameter, to commemorate the 2000 Nobel Prize. These single pixel polymer LEDS are fixed digital images with a resolution of 80 dpi. (Courtesy of Alan Heeger and Gang Yu of DuPont Displays.)

The Fπ symposium series has developed through the years to become a unique forum for the discussion of structure-properties relationships in π-conjugated materials. These include organic semiconductors (with applications in display technologies and low-cost electronics), as well as biologically relevant materials such as DNA.

Fπ6 brought together chemists, physicists, biologists, and engineers to discuss recent developments in the field of p-conjugated materials. The technical program included 5 keynote lectures, 35 plenary lectures, 90 highlighted and contributed oral presentations, and 3 extensive poster sessions. The opening address was given by Zen-ichi Yoshida (Kyoto University), founder of the Fπ series.

The theme of the symposium was defined by the five keynote lectures. Each day began with a keynote lecture and was followed by plenary, contributed, and poster presentations. The keynote lectures were given by:

• Roald Hoffmann (Cornell): “Waiting to be Made: Some as (yet) Unknown π-Electron Systems”

• Andrew Holmes (Cambridge): “Controlled Synthesis of Light-Emitting Polymers”

• Klaus Müllen (MPI Mainz): “Putting the Molecules into Molecular Electronics”

• Gary Schuster (Georgia Tech): “Long-Distance Charge Transfer in Duplex DNA: Mechanism and Meaning”

• Yasuhiko Shirota (Osaka): “Synthesis, Properties, and Applications of Amorphous Molecular Materials”

The plenary, contributed and poster presentations addressed advances in:

• Synthesis of functional π-electron materials

• Processing and patterning

• Structure (bulk, surface/interface)

• Properties (electronic, biological, mechanical, etc.)

• Applications

• Industrial aspects of π-electron materials

Located in the Finger Lakes region, Ithaca provided an ideal setting for the meeting. The region features a multitude of scenic gorges, state parks, and award-winning wineries. Combining the best of rural and urban life, Ithaca was voted one of the top 10 best places for families to live in the USA. The state-of-the-art lecture halls of the Cornell campus, the availability of dormitory rooms (in addition to regular hotel rooms) at walking distance from the lecture rooms, and easy access to the Internet and exercise facilities enhanced the quality of the meeting. Fπ7 will be held in Osaka (Japan) in May 2006.

George Malliaras <george@ccmr.cornell.edu>, organizer of the Fπ6, is an assistant professor of Materials Science and Engineering at Cornell University in Ithaca, New York, USA. John Reynolds <reynolds@chem.ufl.edu> is a professor at the University of Florida in Gainesville, Florida, USA.

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Published Online: 2009-09-01

Published in Print: 2004-11

Articles in the same Issue

https://doi.org/10.1515/ci.2004.26.6.30b