Simple synthesis,photophysics, and electroluminescent properties of poly[2,7‐bis(4‐tert‐butylstyryl)fluorene‐9, 9‐diyl‐alt‐alkane‐α,ω‐diyl]

A simple synthetic route was used for the synthesis of a novel series of alternating copolymers based on substituted 2,7‐distyrylfluorene bridged through alkylene chains. First, 2,7‐dibromofluorene was reacted with 2 equiv of butyllithium, and this was followed by a treatment with 1 equiv of α,ω‐dibromoalkane to yield the intermediate, poly(2,7‐dibromofluorene‐9,9‐diyl‐alt‐alkane‐α,ω‐diyl). ( 1 ) Heck coupling of the latter with 1‐tert‐butyl‐4‐vinylbenzene afforded the target, poly[2,7‐bis(4‐tert‐butylstyryl)fluorene‐9,9‐diyl‐alt‐alkane‐α,ω‐diyl] ( 2 ). The two versions of 2 ( 2a and 2b which have hexane and decane, respectively, as alkane groups) were readily soluble in common organic solvents. Their glass‐transition temperature was relatively low (52 and 87 °C). An intense blue photoluminescence emission with maxima at about 408 and 409 nm was observed in tetrahydrofuran solutions, whereas thin films exhibited an orange emission with maxima at 569 and 588 nm. Very large redshifts of the photoluminescence maxima and Stokes shifts in thin films indicated strong aggregation in the solid state. Both polymers oxidized and reduced irreversibly. Single‐layer light‐emitting diodes with hole‐injecting indium tin oxide and electron‐injecting aluminum electrodes were fabricated. They emitted orange light with external electroluminescence efficiencies of 0.52 and 0.36% photon/electron, as determined in light‐emitting diodes made of 2a and 2b , with alkylenes of (CH₂)₆ and (CH₂)₁₀, respectively. An increase in the external electroluminescence efficiency up to 1.5% was reached in light‐emitting diodes made of polymer blends consisting of 2a and poly(9,9‐dihexadecylfluorene‐2,7‐diyl), which emitted blue‐white light. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 809–821, 2007.     

Synthesis of novel π‐conjugating polymers based on dibenzothiophene

Novel π‐conjugating polymers based on dibenzothiophene were synthesized with a novel dibenzothiophene derivative, 2,8‐bis(4,4,5,5‐tetramethyl‐1,3,2‐dioxaborolan‐2‐yl)dibenzothiophene ( 1 ), prepared from dibenzothiophene. The Suzuki coupling polycondensation of 1 with 2,7‐dibromo‐9,9‐dioctylfluorene, 3,6‐dibromo‐9‐octylcarbazole, or 1,4‐dibromo‐2,5‐dioctyloxybenzene afforded the corresponding dibenzothiophene‐based polymers. The measurements of photoluminescence indicated that all these polymers exhibited blue emission in solution. The copolymer containing dibenzothiophene and 9,9‐dioctylfluorene units exhibited higher thermal stability than poly[(9,9‐dioctylfluorene‐2,7‐diyl)], although the quantum yield of copolymer was lower than that of poly[(9,9‐dioctylfluorene‐2,7‐diyl)]. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 1521–1526, 2003     

Synthesis and characterization of novel red‐emitting alternating copolymers based on fluorene and diketopyrrolopyrrole derivatives

Two novel alternating copolymers, poly{9,9‐dihexylfluorene‐2,7‐diyl‐alt‐2,5‐dioctyl‐3,6‐bis(4‐phenyl)pyrrolo[3,4‐c] pyrrole‐1,4‐dione} ( P1 ) and poly{9,9‐dihexylfluorene‐2,7‐diyl‐alt‐2,5‐dioctyl‐3,6‐bis(3‐phenyl)pyrrolo[3,4‐c] pyrrole‐1,4‐dione} ( P2 ), derived from 9,9‐dihexylfluorene and diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP), have been successfully synthesized through palladium‐catalyzed Suzuki polycondensation in good yields. P1 and P2 possess moderate molecular weights and polydispersities, well‐defined structures, and excellent thermal properties with an onset decomposition temperature around 400 °C. Both P1 and P2 in thin films exhibit red photoluminescence from DPP species exclusively, with peaks at 609 and 616 nm, respectively. Cyclic voltammetry studies show that P1 and P2 have low‐lying lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy levels at ?3.65 eV and reversible reduction processes, so these polymers may constitute another kind of red‐emitting polymer with high electron affinity. Preliminary electroluminescent results of devices with an indium tin oxide/poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene)/polymer/Ba/Al configuration reveal that P1 may be a promising candidate for red emitters with a maximum brightness of 153 cd/m² and a maximum external quantum efficiency of 0.13%, whereas the performance of P2 is relatively poor. These differences might originate from different conjugation lengths in their main chain. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 2395–2405, 2006     

Novel electroluminescent cationic polyelectrolyte based on poly[(fluorene‐2,7‐diylvinylene)‐alt‐(1,4‐phenylenevinylene)] and its precursor

A novel conjugated poly[(fluorene‐2,7‐vinylene)‐alt‐(1,4‐phenylenevinylene)] derivative 2 with quaternizable tertiary amino groups was synthesized by Heck coupling of a substituted 2,7‐dibromofluorene and 1,4‐dialkoxy‐2,5‐divinylbenzene. The corresponding quaternary ammonium cationic polyelectrolyte 3 was obtained by the treatment of 2 with bromoethane. Both polymers were soluble in common organic solvents, like tetrahydrofuran, chloroform, and dichloromethane. Polymer 3 showed a limited solubility in alcohols and was insoluble in water. Photophysical and electrochemical properties of the resulting polymers were fully investigated. An intensive green photoluminescence (PL) with maxima at 550 and 545 nm was observed from thin films of 2 and 3 polymers, respectively, red‐shifted compared with the PL emission spectra measured in the solution. The electrochemical band gaps were 2.38–2.45 eV. Single‐layer and double‐layer (with poly[3,4‐(ethylenedioxy)thiophene]/poly (styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS)) light‐emitting devices (LEDs) with ITO and Al electrodes were prepared and studied. They emitted a green light and their electroluminescence (EL) spectra were similar to those of PL thin films. The external EL efficiency was determined to be 0.43 and 0.32% for ITO/PEDOT:PSS/ 2 /Al and ITO/PEDOT:PSS/ 3 /Al LEDs, respectively. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1016–1027, 2007     

Polyfluorenes containing tetraphenylthiophene segments: Synthesis,photophysics, and electroluminescence

2,5‐Bis(4‐bromophenyl)‐3,4‐diphenylthiophene was synthesized from benzyl chloride and sulfur and through the subsequent bromination of the intermediate 2,3,4,5‐tetraphenylthiophene. It was condensed with 2,7‐dibromo‐9,9‐dihexylfluorene via a nickel‐mediated Yamamoto coupling reaction to afford a new series of statistical copolymers with various compositions. In addition, poly(9,9‐dihexylfluorene) (PF) was synthesized under the same conditions for comparison. All the polymers were soluble in common organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), chloroform, and dichloromethane. Their glass‐transition temperatures increased with an increase in the tetraphenylthiophene (TPT) content in the polymers, and they were 63–149 °C. The solutions of the polymers in THF emitted intense blue light with a photoluminescence maximum at 418–440 nm and quantum yields of 0.32–0.62. Thin films of the polymers with TPT fractions lower than 20 mol % emitted blue‐green light with two well‐resolved peaks at 445 and 520 nm and an optical band gap of about 2.85 eV. A thin film of the polymer with aTPT fraction of 50 mol % emitted pure blue light with a maximum at 419 nm and an optical band gap of 3.28 eV. An enhancement of the light‐emitting‐diode brightness by a factor of ～8 with respect to that of PF was achieved in apolymer containing 5 mol % TPT. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 4015–4026, 2006     

Synthesis and characterization of poly(fluorene‐co‐alt‐phenylene) containing 1,3,4‐oxadiazole dendritic pendants

A series of poly(fluorene‐co‐alt‐phenylene)s containing various generations of dendritic oxadiazole (OXD) pendent wedges were synthesized by the Suzuki polycondensation of OXD‐functionalized 1,4‐dibromophenylene with 9,9‐dihexylfluorene‐2,7‐diboronic ester. The obtained polymers possessed excellent solubility in common solvents and good thermal stability. Photophysical studies showed that the dendronized polymers appended with higher generations of OXD dendrons exhibited enhanced photoluminescence efficiencies and narrower values of the full width at half‐maximum. This was attributed to the shielding effect induced by the bulky dendritic OXD side chains, which prevented self‐quenching and suppressed the formation of aggregates/excimers. The energy transfer from the OXD dendrons to the polymer backbones was very efficient when excitation of the peripheral OXD dendrons resulted mainly in the polymer backbone emission alone. In particular, the photoluminescence emission intensities by the sensitized excitations of OXD dendrons in solid films of the polymers were all stronger than those by the direct excitations of their polymer conjugated backbones. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6765–6774, 2006     

Fluorene‐based alternating polymers containing electron‐withdrawing bithiazole units: Preparation and device applications

We report here the synthesis via Suzuki polymerization of two novel alternating polymers containing 9,9‐dioctylfluorene and electron‐withdrawing 4,4′‐dihexyl‐2,2′‐bithiazole moieties, poly[(4,4′‐dihexyl‐2,2′‐bithiazole‐5,5′‐diyl)‐alt‐(9,9‐dioctylfluorene‐2,7‐diyl)] (PHBTzF) and poly[(5,5′‐bis(2″‐thienyl)‐4,4′‐dihexyl‐2,2′‐bithiazole‐5″,5″‐diyl)‐alt‐(9,9‐dioctylfluorene‐2,7‐diyl)] (PTHBTzTF), and their application to electronic devices. The ultraviolet–visible absorption maxima of films of PHBTzF and PTHBTzTF were 413 and 471 nm, respectively, and the photoluminescence maxima were 513 and 590 nm, respectively. Cyclic voltammetry experiment showed an improvement in the n‐doping stability of the polymers and a reduction of their lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy levels as a result of bithiazole in the polymers' main chain. The highest occupied molecular orbital energy levels of the polymers were ?5.85 eV for PHBTzF and ?5.53 eV for PTHBTzTF. Conventional polymeric light‐emitting‐diode devices were fabricated in the ITO/PEDOT:PSS/polymer/Ca/Al configuration [where ITO is indium tin oxide and PEDOT:PSS is poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene) doped with poly(styrenesulfonic acid)] with the two polymers as emitting layers. The PHBTzF device exhibited a maximum luminance of 210 cd/m² and a turn‐on voltage of 9.4 V, whereas the PTHBTzTF device exhibited a maximum luminance of 1840 cd/m² and a turn‐on voltage of 5.4 V. In addition, a preliminary organic solar‐cell device with the ITO/PEDOT:PSS/(PTHBTzTF + C₆₀)/Ca/Al configuration (where C₆₀ is fullerene) was also fabricated. Under 100 mW/cm² of air mass 1.5 white‐light illumination, the device produced an open‐circuit voltage of 0.76 V and a short‐circuit current of 1.70 mA/cm². The fill factor of the device was 0.40, and the power conversion efficiency was 0.52%. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1845–1857, 2005     

Green‐emitting poly[(1,3‐phenylenevinylene)‐alt‐ (1,4‐phenylenevinylene)]s: Effect of the substitution patterns on the optical properties

Green‐emitting substituted poly[(2‐hexyloxy‐5‐methyl‐1,3‐phenylenevinylene)‐alt‐(2,5‐dihexyloxy‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene)]s ( 6 ) were synthesized via the Wittig–Horner reaction. The polymers were yellow resins with molecular weights of 10,600. The ultraviolet–visible (UV–vis) absorption of 6 (λ_max = 332 or 415 nm) was about 30 nm redshifted from that of poly[(2‐hexyloxy‐5‐methyl‐1,3‐phenylenevinylene)‐alt‐(1,4‐phenylenevinylene)] ( 2 ) but was only 5 nm redshifted with respect to that of poly[(1,3‐phenylenevinylene)‐alt‐(2,5‐dihexyloxy‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene)] ( 1 ). A comparison of the optical properties of 1 , 2 , and 6 showed that substitution on m‐ or p‐phenylene could slightly affect their energy gap and luminescence efficiency, thereby fine‐tuning the optical properties of the poly[(m‐phenylene vinylene)‐alt‐(p‐phenylene vinylene)] materials. The vibronic structures were assigned with the aid of low‐temperature UV–vis and fluorescence spectroscopy. Light‐emitting‐diode devices with 6 produced a green electroluminescence output (emission λ_max ～ 533 nm) with an external quantum efficiency of 0.32%. Substitution at m‐phenylene appeared to be effective in perturbing the charge‐injection process in LED devices. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 1820–1829, 2004     

Incorporation of fluorene‐based emitting polymers into silica

Novel polyfluorene copolymers with pendant hydroxyl groups, poly[2,7‐(9,9‐dihexylfluorene)‐2,7‐(9,9‐bis(6‐hydroxyhexyl)fluorene)‐co‐2,7‐(9,9‐dihexylfluorene)‐1,4‐phenylene] (PFP‐OH) and poly[2,7‐(9,9‐dihexylfluorene)‐2,7‐(9,9‐bis(6‐hydroxyhexyl)fluorene)‐co‐2,7‐(9,9‐dihexylfluorene)‐4,7‐(2,1,3‐benzothiadiazole)] (PFBT‐OH) were prepared. Acid‐catalyzed polycondensations of tetraethoxysilane were carried out in the presence of these polymers to obtain homogeneous hybrids. Photoluminescence spectra of these hybrids suggested the polymers were immobilized in silica matrix retaining their π‐conjugated structures. Further, hybrids of coat film were prepared utilizing perhydropolysilazane as a silica precursor. Their optical properties were examined. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Synthesis and characterization of diphenylaminodiphenyl stryl based alternating copolymers

Diphenylaminobiphenylated stryl based alternating copolymers with phenyl or fluorene, which were expected to have a terphenylene vinylene backbone containing an (N,N‐diphenylamino)biphenyl pendant and a phenyl/fluorene/phenylene vinylene backbone containing an (N,N‐diphenylamino)biphenyl pendant, were synthesized by a Suzuki coupling reaction. The obtained copolymers were confirmed with various types of spectroscopy. The alternating copolymers showed good hole‐injection properties because of their low oxidation potential and good solubility and high thermal stability with a high glass‐transition temperature. The alternating copolymers showed blue emissions because of the adjusted conjugation lengths; the maximum wavelength was 460 nm for poly{4,4′‐biphenylene‐α‐[4″‐(N,N′‐diphenylamino)diphenyl]vinylene‐alt‐5‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)‐2‐methoxybenzene} and 487 nm for poly{4,4′‐biphenylene‐α‐[4″‐(N,N′‐diphenylamino)diphenyl] vinylene‐alt‐9,9‐dihexylfluorene}. The maximum brightness of indium tin oxide/poly(3,4‐ethylene dioxythiophene)/polymer/LiF/Al devices with poly{4,4′‐biphenylene‐α‐[4″‐(N,N′‐diphenylamino)diphenyl]vinylene‐alt‐5‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)‐2‐methoxybenzene} or poly{4,4′‐biphenylene‐α‐[4″‐(N,N′‐diphenylamino)diphenyl]vinylene‐alt‐9,9‐dihexylfluorene} as the emitting layer was 250 or 1000 cd/m², respectively. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 341–347, 2007     

The suzuki–heck polymerization as a tool for the straightforward obtainment of poly(fluorenylene‐vinylene) sensitizers for dye‐sensitized solar cells

This article describes the synthesis and properties of the first poly(arylene‐vinylene)‐based sensitizers for application in dye‐sensitized solar cells (DSSC). The polymers were prepared by the Suzuki–Heck copolymerization of potassium vinyltrifluoroborate (PVTB) with a mixture of dibromoaryl comonomers designed to obtain macromolecules able to bind onto the photoelectrode by means of carboxyphenylene units. The copolymerization reactions were carried out in the presence of an excess of PVTB to lower the molecular weights of the polymers, which were obtained as soluble materials. The polymers poly[(9,9‐didodecyl‐2,7‐fluorenylene)‐vinylene‐co‐(carboxy‐2,5‐phenylene)‐vinylene] ( P1 ), poly[(9,9‐didodecyl‐2,7‐fluorenylene)‐vinylene‐co‐(carboxy‐2,5‐phenylene)‐vinylene‐co‐(4,7‐benzothiadiazolylene)‐vinylene] ( P2 ), and poly[(9,9‐didodecyl‐2,7‐fluorenylene)‐vinylene‐co‐(carboxy‐2,5‐phenylene)‐vinylene‐co‐2,5‐thienylene‐vinylene] ( P3 ) were used in DSSC devices, obtaining conversion efficiencies up to 0.88% ( P3 ). © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Random poly(fluorenylene‐vinylene)s containing 3,7‐Dibenzothiophene‐5,5‐dioxide units: Synthesis,photophysical, and electroluminescence properties

The synthesis of new random poly(arylene‐vinylene)s containing the electron withdrawing 3,7‐dibenzothiophene‐5,5‐dioxide unit was achieved by the Suzuki–Heck cascade polymerization reaction. The properties of poly[9,9‐bis(2‐ethylhexyl)‐2,7‐fluorenylene‐vinylene‐co‐3,7‐dibenzothiophene‐5,5‐dioxide‐vinylene] (50/50 mol/mol, P1 ) and poly[1,4‐bis(2‐ethylhexyloxy)‐2,5‐phenylene‐vinylene‐co‐3,7‐dibenzothiophene‐5,5‐dioxide‐vinylene] (50/50 mol/mol, P2 ) were compared with those of terpolymers obtained by combining the fluorene, dibenzothiophene, and 1,4‐bis(2‐ethylexyloxy)benzene in 20/40/40 ( P3 ), 50/25/25 ( P4 ), and 80/10/10 ( P5 ) molar ratios. The polymers were characterized by ¹H NMR and IR, whereas their thermal properties were investigated by TGA and DSC. Polymers P1–5 are blue–green emitters in solution (λ_em between 481 and 521 nm) whereas a profound red shift observed in the solid state is emission (λ_em from 578 to 608 nm) that can be attributed both to the charge transfer stabilization exerted by the polar medium and to intermolecular interactions occurring in the solid state. Cyclic voltammetry permitted the evaluation of the ionization potentials and also revealed a quasi‐reversible behavior in the reduction scans for the polymers ( P1–4 ) containing the higher amounts of 3,7‐dibenzothiophene‐5,5‐dioxide units. Electroluminescent devices with both ITO/PEDOT‐PSS/ P1–5 /Ca/Al (Type I) and ITO/PEDOT‐PSS/ P1–5 /Alq₃/Ca/Al (Type II) configuration were fabricated showing a yellow to yellow–green emission. In the case of P4 , a luminance of 1835 cd/m² and an efficiency of 0.25 cd/A at 14 V were obtained for the Type II devices. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 2093–2104, 2009     

Poly(fluorenevinylene) derivatives by Heck coupling: Synthesis,photophysics, and electroluminescence

Three new poly(fluorenevinylene) derivatives were synthesized, characterized, and used as emissive materials in light‐emitting diodes (LEDs). They were synthesized by Heck coupling of 9,9‐dihexyl‐2,7‐divinylfluorene with 2,7‐dibromo‐9,9‐dihexylfluorene, 2,3‐bis(4‐bromophenyl)quinoxaline, or 2,5‐bis(4‐bromophenyl)‐3,4‐diphenylthiophene to afford the polymers F , Q , and T , respectively. Polymers F and Q had medium number–average molecular weights (M_n ? 14,000) with relatively narrow polydispersity (1.3–1.6), while T was obtained as an oligomer (M_n ? 4000). All polymers were soluble in common organic solvents, such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), chloroform, dichloromethane, and toluene. They emitted blue‐greenish fluorescence light in dilute THF solution (444–491 nm), with photoluminescence (PL) quantum yields of 0.32–0.54, and in thin film (453–488 nm). LEDs with the configuration of ITO/PEDOT‐PSS/Polymer/Li:Al were fabricated and evaluated. The electroluminescence (EL) spectra of the Q and F polymers were very broad covering the blue–green–red region, whereas the spectrum of the polymer T was almost purely blue. The threshold electrical field for light emission of the devices was almost the same (?1.75 MV/cm). The external quantum efficiency of the devices of polymers Q and F was about 1.0 × 10^?3%, whereas that of polymer T was ?3.0 × 10^?5%. The fluorescence lifetime of polymers F and Q was significantly longer than that of the polymer T . © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 4494–4507, 2006     

Synthesis and properties of new fluorene‐based polyquinoxalines with an ether linkage in the main chain for light‐emitting diodes

A new series of fluorene‐based polyquinoxalines with an ether linkage in the main chain were prepared by the polycondensation reaction between a tetraketone monomer and 3,3′,4,4′‐tetraaminodiphenyl ether. The polycondensation was usually carried out in m‐cresol. The resulting polymers ( P1 – P3 ) [ P1 = poly(quinoxaline‐co‐9,9‐dihexyl‐2,7‐dimethyl‐9H‐fluorene) P2 = poly(quioxaline‐co‐9,9‐dihexyl‐9‐pentyl‐2,7‐di‐p‐tolyl‐9H‐fluorene) P3 = poly(quioxaline‐co‐9,9‐bis‐(4‐methoxy‐phenyl)‐2,7‐dimethyl‐9H‐fluorene)] showed good solubility in common organic solvents and high thermal stability with only a 5% weight loss up to 440 °C. P1 and P2 had very high glass‐transition temperatures of 212 and 223 °C, respectively, whereas P3 did not show any phase‐transition temperature in repeated scans up to 300 °C. All the polymers in photoluminescence showed blue emissions in the range of 432–465 nm, both in chloroform solutions and in thin films. Light‐emitting diode devices of the configuration indium tin oxide/poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene)/polymer:poly(N‐vinylcarbazole) blend (2:8)/LiF/Al were fabricated with P1 or P2 and emitted blue light with electroluminescence peak wavelengths of 434 and 448 nm, respectively. The maximum brightness and the external quantum efficiency of P1 were 0.56 μW/cm² at 29 V and 0.056%, whereas P2 showed 0.50 μW/cm² at 34 V and a relatively low value of 0.015%, respectively. Cyclic voltammetry studies revealed that these polymers possessed low‐lying ionization potential energy levels ranging from ?5.49 to ?5.86 eV and low‐lying electron affinity energy levels ranging from ?2.65 to ?2.88 eV. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 1189–1198, 2006     

Synthesis and characterization of fluorene‐based copolymers containing siloxane or distilbene moieties on their main chain

Two novel types of polyfluorene copolymers containing siloxane linkages or distilbene moieties on their main‐chains were synthesized by Ni(0)‐mediated Yamamoto coupling polymerization. These polymers, designated P2Silo05, P2Silo15, PF‐P02, and PF‐P05 were prepared by copolymerization between 2,7‐dibromo‐9,9′‐dihexylfluorene and bis(bromobenzene)‐terminated disiloxane monomer (for P2Silo05 and P2Silo15) or dibromodistilbene monomer (for PF‐P02 and PF‐P05). All of the polymers were highly soluble in common organic solvents such as chloroform, toluene, and p‐xylene. The glass transition temperatures of the polymers were between 92 and 113 °C, and the decomposition temperatures for a 5% weight loss (T_d) were above 420 °C for all of the polymers, demonstrating high thermal stability. The molecular weight (M_w) of the polymers ranged from 4.2 × 10⁴ to 8.8 × 10⁴. The blue shift of the maximum in the UV‐visible absorption was greater in polymers with a higher molar percentage of siloxane linkages or distilbene moieties than in homo poly (dihexylfluorene) (PDHF). However, the photoluminescence spectra of the polymers were similar to those of PDHF in terms of the onsets and patterns. Single‐layer light‐emitting diodes were fabricated with a configuration of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/polymers/Ca/Al. The maximum electroluminescence emission wavelengths of the polymers were 425–450 nm, corresponding to pure blue light. The CIE co‐ordinates of the polyfluorenes containing siloxane linkages or distilbene moieties ranged from (0.21, 0.21) to (0.17, 0.10), indicating deeper blue light than that of PDHF {CIE co‐ordinates of (0.25, 0.29)}, with P2Silo15 giving the deepest blue‐light {CIE co‐ordinates of (0.17, 0.10)}. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 1595–1608, 2009     

Phenothiazine‐S,S‐dioxide‐ and fluorene‐based light‐emitting polymers: Introduction of e−‐deficient S,S‐dioxide into e−‐rich phenothiazine

A novel series of poly(10‐hexyl‐phenothiazine‐S,S‐dioxide‐3,7‐diyl) and poly(9,9′‐dioctyl‐fluorene‐2,7‐diyl‐alt‐10‐hexyl‐3,7‐phenothiazine‐S,S‐dioxide) (PFPTZ‐SS) compounds were synthesized through Ni(0)‐mediated Yamamoto polymerization and Pd(II)‐catalyzed Suzuki polymerization. The synthesized polymers were characterized by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis and showed higher glass transition temperatures than that of pristine polyfluorene. In terms of photoluminescence (PL), the PFPTZ‐SS compounds were highly fluorescent with bright blue emissions in the solid state. Light‐emitting devices were fabricated with these polymers in an indium tin oxide/poly(3,4‐ethylene dioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate)/polymer/Ca/Al configuration. The electroluminescence (EL) of the copolymers differed from the PL characteristics: the EL device exhibited a redshifted greenish‐blue emission in contrast to the blue emission observed in the PL. Additionally, this unique phenothiazine‐S,S‐dioxide property, triggered by the introduction of an electron‐deficient SO₂ unit into the electron‐rich phenothiazine, gave rise to improvements in the brightness, maximum luminescence intensity, and quantum efficiency of the EL devices fabricated with PFPTZ‐SS. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1236–1246, 2007     

Synthesis of new polyfluorene copolymers with a comonomer containing triphenylamine units and their applications in white‐light‐emitting diodes

Novel conjugated polyfluorene copolymers, poly[9,9‐dihexylfluorene‐2,7‐diyl‐co‐(2,5‐bis(4′‐diphenylaminostyryl)‐phenylene‐1,4‐diyl)]s (PGs), have been synthesized by nickel(0)‐mediated polymerization from 2,7‐dibromo‐9,9‐dihexylfluorene and 1,4′‐dibromo‐2,5‐bis(4‐diphenylaminostyryl)benzene with various molar ratios of the monomers. Because of the incorporation of triphenylamine (TPA) moieties, PGs exhibit much higher HOMO levels than the corresponding polyfluorene homopolymers and are able to facilitate hole injection into the polymer layer from the anode electrode in light‐emitting diodes. Conventional polymeric light‐emitting devices with the configuration ITO/PEDOT:PSS/polymer/Ca/Al have been fabricated. A light‐emitting device produced with one of the PG copolymers (PG10) as the emitting layer exhibited a voltage‐independent and stable bluish‐green emission with color coordinates of (0.22, 0.42) at 5 V. The maximum brightness and current efficiency of the PG10 device were 3370 cd/m² (at 9.6 V) and 0.6 cd/A, respectively. To realize a white polymeric light‐emitting diode, PG10 as the host material was blended with 1.0 wt % of a red‐light‐emitting polymer, poly[9,9‐dioctylfluorene‐2,7‐diyl‐alt‐2,5‐bis(2‐thienyl‐2‐cyanovinyl)‐1‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)‐4‐methoxybenzene‐5′,5′‐diyl] (PFR4‐S), and poly[2‐methoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene] (MEH‐PPV). The device based on PG10:PFR4‐S showed an almost perfect pure white electroluminescence emission, with Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates of (0.33, 0.36) at 8 V; for the PG10:MEH‐PPV device, the CIE coordinates at this voltage were (0.30, 0.40) with a maximum brightness of 1930 cd/m². Moreover, the white‐light emission from the PG10:PFR4‐S device was stable even at different driving voltages and had CIE coordinates of (0.34, 0.36) at 6 V and (0.31, 0.35) at 10 V. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1199–1209, 2007     

Two‐photon excitation and optical limiting in polyfluorene derivatives

Fluorene‐based polymers are widely known materials due to a combination of features such as photoluminescence and electroluminescence, oxidative stability, and film‐forming ability. However, studies reporting nonlinear optical properties in this class of conjugated polymer are scarce. Here, we report a new class of polyfluorene derivatives poly(9,9′‐n‐dihexyl‐2,7‐fluorenedilvinylene‐alt‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene), poly(9,9′‐n‐dihexyl‐2,7‐fluorenedilvinylene‐alt‐2,5‐thiophene), and poly[(9,9‐di‐hexylfluorenediylvinylene‐alt‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene)‐co‐((9,9′‐(3‐t‐butylpropanoate) fluorene‐1,4‐phenylene)] displaying high two‐photon absorption (2PA) in the spectral range from a 490 to 1100 nm. The 2PA cross‐section peak values for these materials are as high as 3000 Göppert Mayer (1 GM = 1 × 10^?50 cm⁴ s/photon), which is related to the high degree of conjugation along the polymer backbone. The polymers that were used in this study presented a strong two‐photon luminescence and also displayed optical limiting behavior, which, in combination with their well‐established properties, make them highly suitable for nonlinear optical devices. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 50: 148–153, 2012     

New blue electroluminescent n‐type polyfluorene copolymers with a 1,3,4‐oxadiazole unit in the main chain

Novel polyfluorene copolymers alternately having an 1,3,4‐oxadiazole unit in the main chain were prepared by both one‐step and two‐step methods for polyoxadiazole synthesis. They displayed highly efficient blue photoluminescence, the properties of which were affected by the extent of conjugation and the changes in the electron density by a side chain. An electrochemical analysis of the polymers using cyclic voltammetry suggested that they could be used as electron‐transport/hole‐blocking materials as well as blue emission materials for polymer light‐emitting diodes. A simple double‐layer device consisting of poly(N‐vinylcarbazole) as a hole‐transport layer and poly[(9,9′‐didodecylfluorene‐2,7‐diyl)‐alt‐((1,4‐bis(1,3,4‐oxadiazole)‐2,5‐di(2‐ethylhexyloxy)phenylene)‐5,5′‐diyl)] as an emission layer exhibited narrow blue electroluminescence with a maximum at 430 nm. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 1058–1068, 2004     

Relationship between the liquid crystallinity and field‐effect‐transistor behavior of fluorene–thiophene‐based conjugated copolymers

A series of fluorene–thiophene‐based semiconducting materials, poly(9,9′‐dioctylfluorene‐alt‐α,α′‐bisthieno[3,2‐b]thiophene) (F8TT2), poly(9,9′‐di(3,6‐dioxaheptyl)fluorene‐alt‐thieno[3,2‐b]thiophene) (BDOHF8TT), poly(9,9′‐di(3,6‐dioxaheptyl)fluorene‐alt‐bithiophene) (BDOHF8T2), and poly(9,9′‐dioctylfluorene‐co‐bithiophene‐co‐[4‐(2‐ethylhexyloxyl)phenyl]diphenylamine) (F8T2TPA), was synthesized through a palladium‐catalyzed Suzuki coupling reaction. F8TT2, BDOHF8TT, BDOHF8T2, and F8T2TPA films exhibited photoluminescence maxima at 523, 550, 522, and 559 nm, respectively. Solution‐processed field‐effect transistors (FETs) fabricated with all the copolymers except F8T2TPA showed p‐type organic FET characteristics. Studies of the differential scanning calorimetry scans and FETs of the polymers revealed that more crystalline polymers gave better FET device performance. The greater planarity and rigidity of thieno[3,2‐b]thiophene in comparison with bithiophene resulted in higher crystallinity of the polymer backbone, which led to improved FET performance. On the other hand, the random incorporation of the triphenylamine moiety into F8T2TPA caused the polymer chains to lose crystallinity, resulting in an absence of FET characteristics. With this study, we could assess the liquid‐crystallinity dependence of the field‐effect carrier mobility on organic FETs based on liquid‐crystalline copolymers. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 4709–4721, 2006