Office Location:
GCIS E 419A 929 E. 57th St. Chicago, IL 60637
Luping Yu was born in Zhejiang Province, People’s Republic of China. He received his BS (1982) and MS (1984) degrees in polymer chemistry from Zhejiang University, and his PhD degree (1989) from the University of Southern California. He is Professor of Chemistry at the University of Chicago. His current research focuses on polymer chemistry, functional polymers, and molecular electronics.
The group's research is focused on the interfacial area between organic chemistry and materials science. This area has rich opportunities for organic chemists both in fundamental science and practical technologies.
1. Polymer chemistry
The group is especially interested in exploring reactions that require mild reaction conditions for syntheses of functional polymers and materials.
Palladium-mediated coupling reactions (the Heck reaction, the Stille coupling reaction) for polycondensation
Exploring new polycondensation reactions as an alternative method to the Stille reaction
Ladder polymer chemistry
2. Functional polymers
Solar cells polymers: The group is engaged in research effort to develop low bandgap polymers that can efficiently harvest and convert solar energy into electricity. Two types of polymers are being designed and synthesized. a.) p-Type low bandgap semiconducting polymers. Both Linear and 2-dimensional polymers are pursued. b.) n-Type semiconducting polymers as electron-acceptors. This project requires the development of synthetic approaches to new monomer and polymer structures. In addition to the synthetic work, extensive research effort is devoted to the elucidation of light conversion mechanism, charge separation dynamics, and structure/property relationship.
Luminescent molecules: The group is searching for strategies to develop organic molecules that emit luminescent in near IR region (>1000 nm) for bioimaging.
Molecular electronics: This project explores the power of organic chemistry in designing and synthesizing molecular electronic components, such as molecular diodes, molecular transistors, and information storage material. A typical example is the synthesis of molecular diodes and demonstration of their rectification effect. The molecular diode consists of conjugated Diblock oligomers. Most recently, we are investigating chemical gating in model molecular transistors. These materials present the unlimited opportunity to further fundamental knowledge of the electronic and structural properties of organic electroactive materials.
