Dr. Chan’s research program on conductive organic materials seeks to design and synthesize novel π-conjugated polymers/molecules with unique optoelectronic and magnetic properties. Current areas of investigation include: (1) organic semiconductors, (2) organic π-radical conductors and (3) organic superconductors, with the goal of developing new functional materials for next-generation organic electronics.

Our research aims to develop novel conductive organic materials for optoelectronic and biomedical applications. Specifically, we synthesize new π-conjugated organic molecules/polymers and characterize their optoelectronic and magnetic properties. Our work combines organic synthesis, polymer chemistry, materials science, and nanomedicine. Ongoing projects include, but not limited to: (1) organic n-type semiconductors (2) organic π-radical conductors (3) exotic organic superconductors

Chan, J. M. W.; Tischler, J. R.; Kooi, S. E.; Bulović, V., Swager, T. M. “Synthesis of J-Aggregating Dibenz[a,j]anthracene-Based Macrocycles”, J. Am. Chem. Soc.2009, 131, 5659-5666. Chan, J. M. W.; Kooi, S. E.; Swager, T. M. “Synthesis of Stair-stepped Polymers Containing Dibenz[a,h]anthracene Subunits”, Macromolecules 2010, 43, 2789-2793. Chan, J. M. W.*; Sardon, H.; Engler, A. C.; García, J. M.; Hedrick, J. L. “Tetra-n-butylammonium Fluoride as an Efficient Transesterification Catalyst for Functionalizing Cyclic Carbonates and Aliphatic Polycarbonates”, ACS Macro Lett.2013, 2, 860-864. Chan, J. M. W.; Ke, X.; Engler, A. C.; Sardon, H.; Yang, Y. Y.; Hedrick, J. L. “Chemically Modifiable N-Heterocycle-functionalized Polycarbonates as a Platform for Diverse Smart Biomimetic Nanomaterials”, Chem. Sci. 2014, 5, 3294-3300.