Effect of block length on the self-assembly of end-capping perfluoroalkyl moieties on the polymer surface

Most research on copolymers with fluorinated monomers has focused on the relationship between fluorinated monomer content and the corresponding surface structure. However, the influence of the non-fluorinated block on the surface structure of the copolymer film is unknown. Various molecular weight poly(butyl methacrylates) (PBMA) end-capped with 2-perfluorooctylethyl methacrylate (FMA) units (PBMA-ec-FMA) have been synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP). The effect of the PBMA block length on the surface structure and properties of the polymers both in the solid state and in solution was investigated using various techniques. X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses indicated that longer PBMA blocks enhanced both the enrichment of the fluorinated moieties and the order of the packing orientation of the perfluoroalkyl side chains on the surface. This enhancement was attributed mainly to the molecular aggregate structure of the end-capped polymers with long PBMA blocks in the solution and to the interfacial structure at the air/liquid interface, which favors the -(CF₂)₇CF₃ moieties self-assembling on the polymer surface during film formation. This observation suggests that the polyacrylate block structure in fluorinated diblock copolymers, in addition to the fluorinated monomer content, plays an important role in structure formation on the solid surface.     

一种合成聚(2-甲氧基-5-(2′-乙基-己氧基)-对苯乙炔)的新方法

聚对苯乙炔 (ＰＰＶ)及其衍生物是制备聚合物发光二极管的最重要的聚合物之一[1] .这主要是因为它们具有优越的电致发光性能 ,易于合成以及良好的环境稳定性[2 ] .而聚 (2 甲氧基 5 (2′ 乙基 己氧基 ) 对苯乙炔 ) (ＭＥＨ ＰＰＶ)由于其可溶性好 ,发光效率和亮度高 ,在电致发光领域广受关注 .现在有许多ＭＥＨ ＰＰＶ的多步化学合成方法以及电化学合成方法 .但是 ,这些方法常常产率低 ,成本高且产品不纯 .本文报道一种固 液两相反应一步合成分子量大、溶解性好的ＭＥＨ ＰＰＶ的新方法 .1　主要原料对甲氧基苯酚 (纯度≥ 98% ,Ａｌｄｒ…     

Demonstrating the feasibility of monitoring the molecular-level structures of moving polymer/silane interfaces during silane diffusion using SFG

In this paper, the feasibility of monitoring molecular structures at a moving polymer/liquid interface by sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy has been demonstrated. N-(2-Aminoethyl)-3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (AATM, NH2(CH2)2NH(CH2)3Si(OCH3)3) has been brought into contact with a deuterated poly(methyl methacrylate) (d-PMMA) film, and the interfacial silane structure has been monitored using SFG. Upon initial contact, the SFG spectra can be detected, but as time progresses, the spectral intensity changes and finally disappears. Additional experiments indicate that these silane molecules can diffuse into the polymer film and the detected SFG signals are actually from the moving polymer/silane interface. Our results show that the molecular order of the polymer/silane interface exists during the entire diffusion process and is lost when the silane molecules traverse through the thickness of the d-PMMA film. The loss of the SFG signal is due to the formation of a new disordered substrate/silane interface, which contributes no detectable SFG signal. The kinetics of the diffusion of the silane into the polymer have been deduced from the time-dependent SFG signals detected from the AATM molecules as they diffuse through polymer films of different thickness.     

Entropically mediated polyolefin blend segregation at buried sapphire and air interfaces investigated by infrared-visible sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy

The segregation behavior of binary polymer blends at hydrophilic solid sapphire and air interfaces was investigated by infrared-visible sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy. SFG spectra were collected from a bulk miscible blend consisting of identical molecular weight (approximately 54,000) and similar surface free energy (29-35 dyn/cm) components of atactic polypropylene (aPP) and aspecific poly(ethylene-co-propylene) rubber (aEPR). Characteristic CH resonances of the blend were contrasted with those of the individual components at both buried (sapphire/polymer) and free (air/polymer) interfaces. Preferential segregation of the aPP component was observed after annealing at both air/polymer and sapphire/polymer interfaces. SFG spectra revealed ordering of the polymer backbone segments with the methylene (CH2) groups perpendicular to the surface at the sapphire interface and the methyl (CH3) groups upright at the air interface. The SFG results indicate that the surface composition can be determined from the peak intensities that are characteristic of each component and that conformational entropy played a likely role in surface segregation. aPP occupied a smaller free volume at the surface because of a statistically smaller segment length (aPP is more flexible and has a shorter length). In addition, the high density of the ordered CH3 side branches enhanced the surface activity by allowing the long-chain backbone segments of aPP to order at the surface.     

Effect of Ultrasonication on Optical Properties and Electronic States of Conjugated Polymer MEH-PPV

Poly[2-methoxy-5-（2＇-ethyl-hexyloxy）-1,4-phenylene vinylene]（MEH-PPV）solutions with different concen-trations were prepared in chloroform for different ultrasonication times.The ultraviolet absorption and photoluminescence（PL）spectra of the MEH-PPV solutions were measured,and the electronic states of the polymer chains under different experimental conditions were studied.The results showed that the effects of ultrasonication on the dilute and concentrated solutions were different.After ultrasonication,the intensity of the absorption peak at 280 nm significantly decreased,relative to the absorption peak at 500 nm for both dilute and concentrated solutions,indicating that the proportion of the two excited states in the polymer chains had changed.For dilute MEH-PPV solutions,the blue-shifted absorption（at about 500 nm）and PL spectra show that ultrasonication also led to polymer chain degradation and thus shortened the effective conjugation length.For concentrated solutions,however,the peak positions of the absorption spectra remained unchanged.In addition,the effects of the solution temperatures on the optical spectra for the MEH-PPV solutions were also discussed.     

Enhancing electroluminescence performance of MEH-PPV based polymer light emitting device via blending with organosoluble polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes

Organosoluble polyhedral oligomeric silsesquioxanes (POSS) blending effect on electroluminescence properties of MEH-PPV based polymer light emitting device was investigated. Excellent compatibility and surface morphology of organosoluble POSS and MEH-PPV based composite films were observed using AFM spectroscopy. The surface roughness of POSS:MEH-PPV composite film increased with increasing POSS content. Interfacial area between the light-emitting layer and cathode was favorably enhanced for cathode electron-injection. MEH-PPV blended with POSS would create a better balance between the electron and hole fluxes for POSS:MEH-PPV composite film based devices. This led to greater current efficiency of the POSS:MEH-PPV composite film based device as compared to one with a light emitting layer of MEH-PPV. Organosoluble POSS concentration effects on the PL spectra and EL performances were also studied for the POSS:MEH-PPV composite film based polymer light emitting devices.     

Polyreactions in ordered systems: Polymerization of octadecyl methacrylate in monolayers at the gas–water interface

The ultraviolet-initiated polymerization of octadecyl methacrylate (ODMA, octadecyl 2-methyl-2-propenoate) as a monomolecular layer at the gas-water interface was studied. The polymerization was carried out at 27°C at the nitrogen-water interface; air inhibits the polymerization. At 27°C the ODMA monolayer exhibits three different states which were characterized by surface pressure-area diagrams and by surface potential measurements. The ODMA monolayer was polymerized under constant surface pressure in the range between 0 and 10 dyne/cm. The polymerization was followed by recording the contraction of the film. The conversion was determined by comparison of the area per monomer unit during polymerization with the area of mixed monolayers formed from ODMA and poly-ODMA as well as by infrared spectroscopy. The polymerization in the condensed state of the monolayer (at high surface pressure) is considerably faster than in the expanded state (at low surface pressure). As the polymer has a condensing effect on the monomer in the mixed monolayer, autocatalysis is suggested at low surface pressures. The resulting polymer was studied by x-ray diffraction. The structure of the freshly collapsed film is determined by the conformation of the polymer at the interface; the data after crystallizing the same sample from the melt point to higher tacticity of the poly-ODMA prepared in monolayers than that of poly-ODMA prepared by normal radical polymerization in solution.     

Raman spectroscopy of intermolecular charge transfer complex between a conjugated polymer and an organic acceptor molecule

Intermolecular donor-acceptor charge transfer complex (CTC) formed in the electronic ground state between poly[2-methoxy-5-(2-ethylhexyloxy)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (MEH-PPV) and 2,4,7-trinitrofluorenone (TNF) has been investigated by Raman and optical absorption spectroscopies. Blending of MEH-PPV and TNF results in appearance of the CTC absorption band in the optical gap of the both components and in changes in the characteristic MEH-PPV Raman bands including shifts, change in bandwidth, and intensity. The experimental data are similar in films and solutions indicating the CTC formation in both. We associate the low-frequency shift of the strongest MEH-PPV Raman band at approximately 1580 cm(-1) reaching 5 cm(-1) with partial electron transfer from MEH-PPV to TNF amounting approximately 0.2e(-). We suggest that polymer conjugated segments can form the CTC of variable composition MEH-PPV:TNF=1:X, where X相似文献   

Sum frequency generation studies at poly(ethylene terephthalate)/silane interfaces: hydrogen bond formation and molecular conformation determination

To better understand the effects of interfacial molecular orientation on adhesion to plastics, the interfaces between poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) and different silane coupling agents were probed using sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy. The polymer/air interface was dominated by the ester carbonyl, methylene, and phenyl groups. Upon contacting the PET film with the amino-functional silane 3-aminopropyltrimethoxysilane (ATMS), the ester carbonyl stretch shifted to a lower energy indicating the formation of hydrogen bonds between the polymer surface and the silane molecules. This shift was not observed when silanes that contained no hydrogen bond donors, such as (3-glycidoxypropyl)-trimethoxysilane and n-butyltrimethoxysilane, were placed into contact with the PET surface. Further evidence of silane ordering at the interface was observed as vibrational peaks attributed to the C-H stretching of the silane methoxy headgroups dominated the PET/silane spectra. It was determined that the conformation of the ATMS molecules at the interface was such that the amino endgroups were oriented toward the interface while the methoxy headgroups were directed toward the silane bulk.     

Surface chemical and mechanical properties of plasma-polymerized N-isopropylacrylamide

Surface-immobilized poly(N-isopropyl acrylamide) (pNIPAM) is currently used for a wide variety of biosensor and biomaterial applications. A thorough characterization of the surface properties of pNIPAM thin films will benefit those applications. In this work, we present analysis of a plasma-polymerized NIPAM (ppNIPAM) coating by multiple surface analytical techniques, including time-of-flight secondary-ion mass spectrometry (ToF-SIMS), contact angle measurement, atomic force microscopy (AFM), and sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy. ToF-SIMS data show that the plasma-deposited NIPAM polymer on the substrate is cross-linked with a good retention of the monomer integrity. Contact angle results confirm the thermoresponsive nature of the film as observed by a change of surface wettability as a function of temperature. Topographic and force-distance curve measurements by AFM further demonstrate that the grafted film shrinks or swells depending on the temperature of the aqueous environment. A clear transition of the elastic modulus is observed at 31-32 degrees C. The change of the surface wettability and mechanical properties vs temperature are attributed to different conformations taken by the polymer, which is reflected on the outmost surface as distinct side chain groups orienting outward at different temperatures as measured by SFG. The results suggest that a ppNIPAM thin film on a substrate experiences similar mechanical and chemical changes to pNIPAM bulk polymers in solution. The SFG result provides evidence supporting the current theory of the lower critical solution temperature (LCST) behavior of pNIPAM.     

Effects of annealing treatment on the properties of MEH-PPV/titania hybrids prepared via in situ sol-gel reaction

A uniform poly[2-methoxy-5-(2′-ethylhexyloxy)-p-phenylenevinylene] (MEH-PPV)/titania hybrid film was successfully prepared by an in situ sol-gel reaction of titanium isopropoxide (TIP) in the presence of MEH-PPV/2-chlorophenol solution. The annealing treatment increased the conversion of TIP to titania as determined from evidence of the formation of Ti-O-Ti bonds in the Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectrum. Scanning electronic microscope (SEM) photographs showed that the morphology and distribution of titania in the hybrid film were strongly related to the amount of water in the in situ sol-gel reaction. The thermal stability of MEH-PPV/titania hybrids was enhanced by the annealing treatment. Small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) and X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses indicated that annealing treatment promoted the ordered aggregation of the MEH-PPV chains and crystallization of titania to a certain extent. The blue shift in Ultraviolet-visible (UV-vis) absorption of pure MEH-PPV after annealing was ascribed to the small extent of decomposition and coil conformation which occurred at high temperature. A more-obvious blue shift for the hybrids was observed, which resulted from irregular aggregation and coil conformation of the MEH-PPV chains induced by heterogeneous point, TIP (titania). The red shift in the photoluminescent (PL) emission for pure MEH-PPV resulted from a certain extent of ordered aggregation after annealing. However, only a slight red shift in the PL emission peak for the hybrids was found due to the hindrance of ordered aggregation of MEH-PPV chains in the presence of TIP (titania).     

Structural properties of atactic polystyrene adsorbed onto solid surfaces

In the present work, we are studying the local conformation of chains in a thin film of polystyrene adsorbed on a solid substrate by using atomistically detailed simulations. The simulations are carried out by using the readily available and massively parallel molecular dynamics code known as LAMMPS. In particular, a special emphasis is given to the density and orientation of side chains (which consist of phenyl groups and methylene units) at solid/polymer and polymer/vacuum interfaces. Three types of substrates were used in our study: α-quartz, graphite, and amorphous silica. Our investigation was restricted to atactic polystyrene. Our results show that the density and structural properties of side chains depend on the type of surface. An excess of phenyl rings is observed near the α-quartz substrate while the film adsorbed on graphite is depleted in C(6)H(5). Moreover, the orientation of the rings and methylene units on the substrate/film interface show a strong dependence on the type of the substrate, while the rings at the film/vacuum interface show a marked tendency to point outward, away from the film. The results we obtained are in a large part in good agreement with previous experimental and simulation results.     

The influence of sodium ethene sulphonate comonomer on the film formation process of poly(vinyl acetate) dispersions

Various latex dispersions from vinyl acetate/sodium ethene sulphonate (sodium vinyl sulphonate) copolymers, stabilised by a constant amount of Hostapal BV, a surfactant with poly(ethylene oxide) groups, were investigated by a variety of solid and liquid state nuclear magnetic resonance methods. In order to investigate the influence of sodium ethene sulphonate on the film formation process, the serum and polymer were analysed separately. The stoichiometric monomer composition of the copolymer in the aqueous phase and in the hydrophobic particles was obtained. The ionic comonomer is enriched at the particle surface via its proximity to the applied surfactant by two-dimensional exchange NMR. For investigations of the film formation process, latex dispersions were prepared and dried to form spatially homogeneous films at different defined solid contents. Depending on the chemical composition of a chosen dispersion, NMR allows the investigation of the drying process of the water. The drying process is a function of the ionic strength of the dispersion and the hydrophilicity of the polymer. It is correlated to the drying mechanism of the water within the film. A not fully dried film contains external water outside the particles, water at ionic and non-ionic groups at surfactants in the polymer water interface and, additionally, water in the swollen and mobilised polymer. The distribution of water to these environments is markedly changed by the ionic comonomer, especially close to the end of the drying process.     

Intrachain photoluminescence dynamics of MEH-PPV in the solid state

The photoluminescence (PL) dynamics of poly[2-methoxy-5-(2'-ethyl-hexyloxy)-1,4-phenylene vinylene] (MEH-PPV) blended in host polymer (polypropylene, PP) matrix as well as that in the neat film has been studied. The concentration of MEH-PPV in the PP blend is designed to be fairly low (0.01 wt %) in order to observe the intrinsic intrachain PL property of MEH-PPV in the solid state. The steady-state 0-0 PL band of the blend sample shows a blue-shift of 0.12 eV with respect to that of the neat film of MEH-PPV. The PL-excitation (PLE) spectra of the blend sample exhibit definite vibronic structure, and hence we can determine the magnitude of the Stokes shift as 0.06 eV. The blend sample shows a single-exponential PL decay at 4 K with a time constant of 850 ps. We emphasize that this single-exponential-type PL decay is an intrinsic property of the intrachain PL species. Time-resolved PL measurements confirm dynamical red-shift of the PL band in the neat film, whereas this trend is not found in the case of the PP blend. These observations indicate that the energy transfer between finite segments, which can cause exciton migration, is much less efficient within the isolated MEH-PPV polymer chain compared to the case of the interchain transfer. The time-resolved measurements further demonstrate that the Stokes shift identified in the blend sample takes place at the early stage within 50 ps following photoexcitation. We attribute this Stokes shift to the rapid increase of the planarity of the MEH-PPV chain caused by the torsion of some constituent phenyl rings following photoexcitation. Finally, based on an argument on the different magnitudes of Stokes shift between the blend sample and the neat film, we conclude that the PL of MEH-PPV in the neat film predominantly occurs at the site of interchain excitations via the interchain migration of excitons.     

Adsorption of sodium dodecyl sulfate at the hydrophobic solid/aqueous solution interface in the presence of poly(ethylene glycol): dependence upon polymer molecular weight

The polar orientation and degree of conformational order of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) adsorbed at the hydrophobic octadecanethiol/aqueous solution interface in the presence of poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) has been investigated as a function of the surfactant concentration and the molecular weight of the polymer. Sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy was employed to obtain spectra of interfacial surfactant; weak SFG signals from interfacial polymer were also detected for polymer molecular weights of 900 and above. The phase of the SFG spectra indicated that both the surfactant and polymer had a net orientation of their CH2 and/or CH3 groups toward the hydrophobic surface. Spectra of SDS in the presence of mixed polymer/surfactant solutions showed increasing conformational order as the surfactant concentration was raised. At the lowest surfactant concentrations, the spectra of SDS were weaker in the presence of the polymer than in its absence. All PEG molecular weights investigated, with the exception of PEG 400, gave rise to significant inhibition of ordered surfactant adsorption below the critical micelle concentration. The greatest inhibitory effect was noted for PEG 900. Probing interfacial PEG specifically through the use of perdeuterated SDS revealed that the polymer spectral intensity decreased monotonically as the surfactant concentration was increased for all polymer molecular weights where a PEG spectrum was apparent. These findings are interpreted in terms of the displacement of preadsorbed polymer as the surfactant concentration increases. This result is compatible with observations of adsorption from SDS/PEG solutions at solid/solution and solution/air interfaces made using other techniques.     

Adsorption of SDS and PEG on calcium fluoride studied by sum frequency generation vibrational spectroscopy

The adsorption of sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) from aqueous solution onto a calcium fluoride substrate (CaF(2)), in the presence of polyethylene glycol (PEG) of different molecular weights, has been investigated using the interface specific nonlinear optical technique of sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy. Spectra of adsorbed SDS (in the C-H stretching region) were recorded at the surface of a CaF(2) prism in contact with SDS solutions at concentrations up to the cmc (8 mM) of the pure surfactant and in contact with binary solutions containing SDS and PEG with molecular weights from 400 to 12 000. In contrast with SFG spectra from the same combinations of surfactant and polymer on a hydrophobic surface, there was no evidence of spectra arising from the actual polymer adsorbed on CaF(2) at any polymer molecular weight either in the absence or presence of surfactant. However, there was indirect evidence for the presence of adsorbed polymer from changes in the SDS SFG spectra in the presence of polymer compared with spectra when the polymer was absent. The SFG spectra of SDS at 0.8 mM were closely similar to each other at all polymer molecular weights and different from the spectra in the absence of the polymer. The spectral differences between the polymer present and polymer absent was much smaller when the solution concentration of surfactant was 8 mM.     

Colloidal TiO2 nanocrystals/MEH-PPV nanocomposites: photo(electro)chemical study

An extensive optical and photoelectrochemical study of blended systems composed of organic-capped TiO(2) nanocrystals with either a spherical or rodlike morphology and a conjugated polymer, MEH-PPV, is presented. The absorption and emission properties of the heterojunctions have been characterized both in solution and in thin films. The blended structures deposited onto conductive substrates have been employed as active layers in photoelectrochemical systems. The investigation has been focused on the photoinduced charge transfer and recombination processes at the interface between the two components, as a function of the nanocrystal shape and surface coating, and of the film thickness. The presence of a large number of interfaces available for charge transfer is believed to play a fundamental role in enhancing the photoelectrochemical performances of the dispersed heterojunctions. The reported results suggest that such MEH-PPV/TiO(2) heterojunctions may be exploited as potential active layers in future photovoltaic and photoelectrochemical devices.     

Diffusion of one or more components of a silane adhesion-promoting mixture into poly(methyl methacrylate)

The surface-sensitive technique of sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy has been applied to study the buried interfaces between different polymers including deuterated polystyrene (d-PS) and deuterated poly(methyl methacrylate) (d-PMMA) and a two-component silane adhesion-promoting mixture (SAPM) composed of (3-glycidoxypropyl)trimethoxysilane (gamma-GPS) and a methylvinylsiloxanol (MVS). Because of the dissolution of d-PS, no SFG CH stretching signals could be collected from the d-PS/gamma-GPS interface, and SFG signals collected from the d-PS/SAPM interface gradually disappeared over time. SFG results also showed that gamma-GPS can diffuse through the d-PMMA film. The diffusion of gamma-GPS through the d-PMMA film was confirmed by SFG studies on the interface between gamma-GPS and a d-PMMA/PS two-polymer layer system. Initially the SFG signal from the PS layer was detected. However, after gamma-GPS diffused through the d-PMMA film, the PS film was dissolved by the silane, and thus the SFG signal from PS was lost. Similar experiments have been carried out at the interface between the SAPM and the d-PMMA/PS two-polymer layer system and it was found that the diffusion time of the gamma-GPS in the SAPM through the d-PMMA film was significantly longer. These results were much different to those from previous SFG studies on the analogous PET interfaces and appear consistent with differences in solubility parameters calculated for these systems.     

Role of interfacial water on protein adsorption at cross-linked polyethylene oxide interfaces

Sum frequency generation (SFG) vibrational spectroscopy was used to study the structure of water at cross-linked PEO film interfaces in the presence of human serum albumin (HSA) protein. Although PEO is charge neutral, the PEO film/water interface exhibited an SFG signal of water similar to that of a highly charged water/silica interface, signifying the presence of ordered water. Ordered water molecules were observed not only at the water/PEO interface, but also within the PEO film. It indicates that the PEO and water form an ordered hydrogen-bonded network extending from the bulk PEO film into liquid water, which can provide an energy barrier for protein adsorption. Upon exposure to the protein solution, the SFG spectra of water at the water/PEO interface remained nearly unperturbed. For comparison, the SFG spectra of water/silica and water/polystyrene interfaces were also studied with and without HSA in the solution. The SFG spectra of the interfacial water were correlated with the amount of protein adsorbed on the surfaces using fluorescence microscopy, which showed that the amount of protein adsorbed on the PEO film was about 10 times less than that on a polystyrene film and 3 times less than that on silica.     

Control of pi-stacking for highly emissive poly(p-phenylenevinylene)s: synthesis and photoluminescence of new tricyclodecane substituted bulky poly(p-phenylenevinylene)s and its copolymers

In the present work, we have demonstrated a facile approach to increase the luminescence of the poly (p-phenylenevinylene)s via controlling the molecular aggregates induced by pi-stacking. We have synthesized new bulky tricyclodecane (TCD) substituted PPVs: poly(2-methoxy-5-tricyclodecanemethyleneoxy-1,4-phenylenevinylene) (MTCD-PPV), poly(bis-2,5-tricyclodecanemethyleneoxy-1,4-phenylenevinylene) (BTCD-PPV), and a series of symmetrically substituted bulky PPV copolymers (P-1-P-7) covering the entire composition range from 0 to 100 mol %. The structures of the monomers and polymers were confirmed by 1H NMR and FTIR, and the molecular weights were determined by gel permeation chromatography. The composition analysis by NMR revealed that the bulky monomer was highly reactive and the incorporation of bulky units in MEH-PPV increased irrespective of the feed ratio. The polymers possess good solubility, high molecular weights, good thermal stability, and so forth. The molecular weights of the PPV copolymers were also significantly affected by the bulky substitution: the higher the incorporation of bulky units, the lower the molecular weight. The absorption and emission studies revealed that there was no influence on the MEH-PPV by TCD substitution in solution whereas in the solid state the photoluminescence intensity of PPV increased more than 10 times. The luminescence increase in PPV was observed throughout the entire bulk and was not confined to any particular domain in the polymer. The bulky PPV copolymers showed that both the luminescence intensity (in film) and quantum yields (in solution) increased with an increase in the extent of BTCD incorporation in the MEH-PPV and attained a maximum for 50% BTCD. The TCD unit has thus proved to be an efficient bulky susbstituent for PPV as it controls the pi-stack-induced molecular aggregates in the polymer chains by increasing the interchain distances. The new bulky PPV copolymers are highly soluble, thermally stable, and highly luminescent besides being economically cheap compared to the other materials reported so far for the bulkier approach in pi-conjugated materials.