RUI: chiral light emitting eutectogels

The National Science Foundation Division of Chemistry awarded Butler University $256,502 on September 1, 2026, under the Mathematical and Physical Sciences program (CFDA 47.049) to develop flexible chiral light-emitting eutectogels for applications in circularly polarized organic light-emitting diodes, circularly polarized displays, and security labels.

Professor Todd Hopkins of Butler University's Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry leads research combining chiral deep eutectic solvents with luminescent lanthanides to create brighter, more flexible materials. The project employs machine learning to predict deep eutectic solvent properties and uses three-component mixtures—incorporating terbium and europium in multiple oxidation states—to generate red, green, and blue circularly polarized luminescence. The resulting chiral light-emitting materials will be incorporated into polymers or gel-forming molecules to produce functional eutectogels. The research encompasses discovery of new chiral deep eutectic solvents through screening and machine learning, characterization of induced circularly polarized luminescence, computational simulations and electronic structure calculations to understand the luminescence mechanism, and assessment of how physicochemical properties determine eutectogel formation and performance. The project engages undergraduate students in research spanning physical, inorganic, and materials chemistry, with educational impact extending to students in physical chemistry laboratory courses.

Performance occurs in Indianapolis, Indiana through August 31, 2029.

Abstract

In this project, professor todd hopkins of the department of chemistry and biochemistry at butler university is developing flexible chiral light emitting materials based on eutectogels, chiral deep eutectic solvents, and luminescent lanthanides. This research exploits the design versatility of deep eutectic solvents to create brighter and flexible materials that can be used in circularly polarized organic light emitting diodes (OLEDS), circularly polarized displays, or security labels. The project relies on the development of a machine learning model to predict deep eutectic solvent properties. This project engages undergraduate students in research at the interface of physical, inorganic, and materials chemistry. The scientific training that results from this project extends to students enrolled in a physical chemistry laboratory course. Deep eutectic solvents (DES) are formed by mixing two or more components to make a new liquid that has controllable properties. Specifically, this project will utilize three component mixtures to enhance the induced circularly polarized luminescence of luminescent lanthanide complexes. The combination of terbium, and europium in two oxidation states can provide red, green and blue circularly polarized luminescence (CPL). The resulting chiral light emitting DES will be combined with polymers or GEL-forming molecules to create chiral light emitting eutectogels. In order to achieve this objective, the research project will 1) discover new three-component chiral DES using screening and machine learning, 2) characterize how well these DES induce CPL from lanthanide complexes, 3) use computational simulations and electronic structure calculations to understand the mechanism of the induced CPL, and 4) characterize how the physicochemical properties of the chiral DES determine the formation and properties of the chiral eutectogels. Successful chiral light emitting eutectogels will be incorporated into OLEDS to determine their suitability as flexible circularly polarized emitting materials. This award reflects NSF's statutory mission and has been deemed worthy of support through evaluation using the foundation's intellectual merit and broader impacts review criteria.- subawards are not planned for this award.