The work herein consists of two projects in which nanoparticle-metallopolymer hybrid bulk-heterojunction (BHJ) systems are modified for improved performance in photovoltaic and electronic applications. The first project describes the process for growing two distinct nanoparticle compositions within the same active layer of a conducting metallopolymer composed of two metal-complexes, which are based on the N,N’-((2,2’-dimethyl)propyl)bis(5-(2,2’-bithiophene-5-yl)salcylidenimine ligand. The second project describes the synthesis of an alternative electropolymerizable ligand N,N’-((2,2’-dimethyl)propyl)bis(5-(thieno[3,2-b]thiophen-5-yl) salicylidenimine. The purpose of exchanging of bithiophene moieties for fused-ring thieno[3,2-b]thiophene units was to produce a stabilizing effect in the resulting polymer, as evidenced by a slight delay in the rate of photo-bleaching. / text

Conducting polymers that contain metals are remarkable materials, because they have the properties of both organic backbones and metals. Depending on the position of the metal relative to the conjugated backbone, i.e. attached to or directly in the backbone, these two can couple resulting in advancement of the functionality and therefore potential applications of these types of materials. Complexes of tridentate ligands with donor atoms such as phosphorus, nitrogen, and sulfur also have a wide variety of applications. In addition, complexes of tridentate ligands have advantages of stability and control of electron density by variation of donor atoms. Therefore, conjugated polymers with tridentate ligand units will have promise for various applications and advantages in their designs. Complexes of PNP ligand with molybdenum and carbonyl ancillary ligands were synthesized and characterized. Isomerization and conversion reactions between them were investigated as well as the coordination modes. Many types of PNP ligands have been studied in the literature because the hemilabile property of the nitrogen atom promotes some catalytic reactions and gives different coordination geometries. Conducting polymers can be used as redox-active ligands and they can be used to control electron density on the metal attached to them. Synthesis and characterization of a novel polymerizable ligand 3,5-bis-EDOT-N,N-bis[2-diphenylphosphinoethyl]aniline was achieved. Related molybdenum complexes with ancillary ligands as carbonyls were also synthesized and characterized. Monomer complexes and the free ligand were electropolymerized and studied. Tris(bipyridine)ruthenium(II) chloride and analogous complexes have been studied extensively in the literature due to their luminescent and photochemical properties, and excited state lifetimes. Conducting polymers with similar ruthenium groups have been investigated for various applications. Synthesis of four ruthenium complexes with the polymerizable ligand 2,6-Bis[4-[2-(3,4-diethylenedioxy)thiophene]pyrazol-1-yl]pyridine and four different bidentate ligands were reproduced; electropolymerizations of the complexes were achieved; electrochemical, UV-Vis and luminescence studies were performed and discussed. Various complexes of copper, silver, platinum, and palladium with nitrogen and phosphorus donors have been reported for their luminescence behavior as well as their interesting structures. Model complexes of these metals with N,N-bis[2-(diphenylphosphino)ethyl]phenyl-amine (a PNP ligand) have been synthesized and characterized. Absorption and luminescence behaviors as well as the coordination modes were investigated. / text