Meet Dr. Jeromy Rech

Advisor: Dr. Zhenan Bao

Institution: Stanford University

Bio:  Jeromy Rech is a current Intelligence Community Postdoctoral Research Fellow working in Professor Zhenan Bao’s research group at Stanford University, California. His research focus is on organic electronics, specifically the synthesis of transparent electrochromic polymers for use in smart windows for thermal management. Jeromy aims to be a professor of chemistry and have a research group which focuses on novel organic electronics. This passion comes from his experiences up to this point. Jeromy earned a Bachelor of Science in chemical physics from Lewis University, Illinois, where he worked in Professor Jason Keleher’s research group on designing water filtration units. Afterwards, Jeromy earned a Ph. D. in chemistry from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill working in Professor Wei You’s research group. His dissertation focused on the synthesis of conjugated polymers which are used in creating light weight and flexible solar panels. Outside of research, Jeromy has a passion for teaching and outreach. Along with being an adjunct professor at Durham Technical Community College during his Ph. D., Jeromy is a head referee for the FIRST robotics community.

Abstract:  Electrochromic polymers (ECPs) are materials whose absorption of light changes upon an application of voltage or current, and this class of materials have attracted broad attention for potential applications in color-changing lenses, smart windows for heat management, and aesthetic design with signage and displays. However, virtually all research into new electrochromic materials focuses on designing materials which have an absorption profile in the visible light range. Therefore, it is of great interest to design new materials that have electrochromic properties outside of the visible light window. For example, applications such as data storage, optical communication, thermal control, and optical filters can be achieved with controlled absorption in the ultraviolet, near infrared, and/or infrared region. My research aims to design new ECPs which have absorption of light solely in the ultraviolet, near infrared, and/or infrared regions of the electromagnetic spectrum, while remaining colorless in the visible light spectrum. To achieve such materials, N-substituted pyrrole-based polymers with strong steric hinderance to drive a large band gap and ultraviolet absorption in the neutral state will be synthesized. Upon doping, the polymer backbone strain is relaxed which planarizes the material and a broad bipolar absorption in the near infrared can be obtained. The culmination of this research will result in a clear and flexible electrochromic device which can dynamically change absorption between the ultraviolet and near infrared region.