Synthesis,morphology, and field‐effect transistor characteristics of new crystalline–crystalline diblock copolymers of poly(3‐hexylthiophene‐block‐steryl acrylate)

We report the synthesis, morphology, and charge‐transporting characteristics of new crystalline–crystalline diblock copolymers, poly(3‐hexylthiophene‐block‐stearyl acrylate) (P3HT‐b‐PSA). Three different diblock copolymers, P1 , P2 , and P3 , with P3HT/PSA polymerization degree block ratios of 60/26, 60/50, and 60/360, respectively, were prepared for investigating the morphology‐property relationship and the dependence of optoelectronic properties on the block copolymer structure. Small‐ and wide‐angle X‐ray scattering indicated the presence of both P3HT and PSA crystalline domains and the presence of microphase separation among blocks. The transmission electron microscopy and atomic force microscopy results revealed that the diblock copolymers cast from chlorobenzene, tended to form needle‐like morphologies. The field‐effect mobilities of the diblock copolymers deposited on untreated SiO₂ substrates, decreased with increasing PSA block length. In a sharp contrast, the mobilities enhanced with increasing PSA content when the P3HT‐b‐PSA was deposited on phenyltrichlorosilane (PTS)‐treated substrates. The copolymers with a 60/360 P3HT/PSA ratio showed a good mobility of 4 × 10^?3 cm² V^?1 s^?1 and a high on/off ratio of 7 × 10⁶ on PTS‐treated substrates. This study highlighted the importance of the block ratio, the substrate and self‐assembly structures on the charge transport characteristics of the crystalline–crystalline conjugated diblock copolymers. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Synthesis and Characterization of a Block Copolymer Containing Regioregular Poly(3‐hexylthiophene) and Poly(γ‐benzyl‐L‐glutamate)

Poly(3‐hexylthiophene)‐b‐poly(γ‐benzyl‐L ‐glutamate) (P3HT‐b‐PBLG) rod–rod diblock copolymer was synthesized by a ring‐opening polymerization of γ‐benzyl‐L ‐glutamate‐N‐carboxyanhydride using a benzylamine‐terminated regioregular P3HT macroinitiator. The opto‐electronic properties of the diblock copolymer have been investigated. The P3HT precursor and the P3HT‐b‐PBLG have similar UV–Vis spectra both in solution and solid state, indicating that the presence of PBLG block does not decrease the effective conjugation length of the semiconducting polythiophene segment. The copolymer displays solvatochromic behavior in THF/water mixtures. The morphology of the diblock copolymer depends upon the solvent used for film casting and annealing results in morphological changes for both films deposited from chloroform and trichlorobenzene.

     

Synthesis and morphology of all‐conjugated donor–acceptor block copolymers based on poly(3‐hexylthiophene) and poly(naphthalene diimide)

A series of all‐conjugated diblock and triblock copolymers comprised of poly(naphthalene diimide) (PNDI)‐based n‐type and the poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) segments could be synthesized via the Kumada catalyst‐transfer polycondensation process. The crystalline structures and chain orientation of the block copolymer thin films were systematically studied by grazing incident wide‐angle X‐ray scattering (GIWAXS). The GIWAXS results indicated that both the P3HT and PNDI segments in the block copolymers form exclusive crystalline domains in which the P3HT domain aligns with an edge‐on rich orientation, and the PNDI domain aligns with a face‐on rich orientation. In contrast, the blend films of the P3HT and PNDI homopolymers also show two distinguished crystalline domains in which the P3HT domain aligns with an edge‐on rich orientation, and the PNDI domains align in different ways depending on the chemical structure of n‐type polymers, that is, PNDI1Th is isotropically dispersed, while PNDI2Th aligns with a face‐on rich orientation. In addition, the effect of thermal annealing on the crystalline behavior of the block copolymers is reported. The GIWAXS results indicated that thermal annealing increases the crystallinity of both segments without affecting their chain orientation. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 1139–1148     

Controlled one-dimensional nanostructures in poly(3-hexylthiophene) thin film for high-performance organic field-effect transistors

With the aim of improving the field-effect mobilities in poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) thin film transistors, we controlled the nanostructures of P3HT thin film by changing the solvent vapor pressure in a spin-coating chamber during solidification. The transistors with P3HT thin films spin-coated under a high solvent vapor pressure (56.5 KPa), showing the one-dimensional nanowire morphologies, resulted in the relatively high field-effect mobilities (0.02 cm2/(V.s)) that are typically more than 1 order of magnitude higher than those prepared under ambient conditions, showing the featureless morphologies. This can be attributed to the higher solvent vapor pressure during film formation, providing the solvent is allowed to evaporate slowly and the degree of ordering within the P3HT crystalline domains is dramatically improved.     

Synthesis of block copolymers comprised of poly(3‐hexylthiophene) segment with trisiloxane side chains and their application to organic thin film transistor

The demand of stretchability for a semiconducting polymer has increased to realize wearable devices and sensors. However, studies involving intrinsically stretchable π‐conjugated polymers are still limited. Here, we develop a soft‐polythiophene derivative, P3SiHT, with a trisiloxane unit in the side chains via a hexylene spacer unit. In addition, diblock (P3HT‐b‐P3SiHT) and triblock (P3HT‐b‐P3SiHT‐b‐P3HT) copolymers could be synthesized based on Kumada catalyst‐transfer polycondensation. The results of atomic force microscopy and grazing incidence small‐angle X‐ray scattering indicate that the block copolymer thin films form a phase‐separated structure between the P3HT and P3SiHT domains. The organic thin film transistor devices were prepared to assess the electrical properties of the block polymers. As a result, the block copolymers showed comparable or even higher hole mobility than that of P3HT homopolymer, thus due to the enhanced phase‐separation and thereby charge transportation. The mechanical test of the bulk films indicates that P3HT‐b‐P3SiHT‐b‐P3HT shows lower tensile modulus and longer elongation at break than P3HT homopolymer and other diblock copolymers. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 1787–1794     

异戊二烯/甲基丙烯酸甲酯嵌段共聚物的合成与微结构研究

用稀土催化剂ＲＥ（Ｐ２０４）３ （ｉ Ｂｕ）３Ａｌ ＢｒＣＨ２ＣＨ２Ｂｒ（ＲＥ＝Ｎｄ,Ｐｒ,Ｙ等）合成嵌段共聚物Ｐ（ＩＰ ｂ ＭＭＡ）．系统考察了共聚合反应特征,以ＤＳＣ,１Ｈ ＮＭＲ,１３Ｃ ＮＭＲ技术研究了该嵌段共聚物的微结构．发现以二溴乙烷为添加剂的稀土催化体系是制备Ｐ（ＩＰ ｂ ＭＭＡ）的良好催化剂,共聚物含２个玻璃化转变温度,分别为－７５６℃和１２９℃,嵌段共聚物的结构规整,（ＩＰ）ｍ段以ｃｉｓ １,４结构为主,其含量为９７％左右,３,４ 结构为３％左右,链节间以头 尾方式连接．（ＭＭＡ）ｎ段以间同立构为主,其含量达７４％．     

Synthesis and self‐assembly of diblock copolymers composed of poly(3‐hexylthiophene) and poly(fluorooctyl methacrylate) segments

Regioregular poly(3‐hexylthiophene)‐b‐poly(1H,1H‐dihydro perfluorooctyl methacrylate) (P3HT‐b‐PFOMA) diblock copolymers were synthesized by atom transfer radical polymerization of fluorooctyl methacrylate using bromoester terminated poly(3‐hexylthiophene) macroinitiators in order to investigate their morphological properties. The P3HT macroinitiator was previously prepared by chemical modification of hydroxy terminated P3HT. The block copolymers were well characterized by ¹H NMR spectroscopy and gel permeation chromatography. Transmission electron microscopy was used to investigate the nanostructured morphology of the diblock copolymers. The block copolymers are able to undergo microphase separation and self‐assemble into well‐defined and organized nanofibrillar‐like micellar morphology. The development of the morphology of P3HT‐b‐PFOMA block copolymers was investigated after annealing in solvent vapor and also in supercritical CO₂. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Annealing effect on performance and morphology of photovoltaic devices based on poly(3‐hexylthiophene)‐b‐poly(ethylene oxide)

Novel block copolymers, poly(3‐hexylthiophene)‐b‐poly(ethylene oxide) (P3HT‐b‐PEO) were synthesized via Suzuki coupling reaction of P3HT and PEO homopolymers. The copolymers were characterized by NMR, gel permeation chromatography, differential scanning calorimeter, and UV–vis measurements. A series of devices based on the block copolymers with a fullerene derivative were evaluated after thermal or solvent annealing. The device using P3HT‐b‐PEO showed higher efficiency than using P3HT blend after thermal annealing. Phase‐separated structures in the thin films of block copolymer blends were investigated by atomic force microscopy to clarify the relationship between morphologies constructed by annealing and the device performance. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Electrospinning of a functional perfluorinated block copolymer as a powerful route for imparting superhydrophobicity and corrosion resistance to aluminum substrates

Superhydrophobic aluminum surfaces with excellent corrosion resistance were successfully prepared by electrospinning of a novel fluorinated diblock copolymer solution. Micro- and nanostructuration of the diblock copolymer coating was obtained by electrospinning which proved to be an easy and cheap electrospinning technology to fabricate superhydrophobic coating. The diblock copolymer is made of poly(heptadecafluorodecylacrylate-co-acrylic acid) (PFDA-co-AA) random copolymer as the first block and polyacrylonitrile (PAN) as the second one. The fluorinated block promotes hydrophobicity to the surface by reducing the surface tension, while its carboxylic acid functions anchor the polymer film onto the aluminum surface after annealing at 130 °C. The PAN block of this copolymer insures the stability of the structuration of the surface during annealing, thanks to the infusible character of PAN. It is also demonstrated that the so-formed superhydrophobic coating shows good adhesion to aluminum surfaces, resulting in excellent corrosion resistance.     

Synthesis and characterization of six‐arm star polystyrene‐block‐poly (3‐hexylthiophene) copolymer by combination of atom transfer radical polymerization and click reaction

A novel six‐arm star block copolymer comprising polystyrene (PS) linked to the center and π‐conjugated poly (3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) was successfully synthesized using a combination of atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) and click reaction. First, star‐shaped PS with six arms was prepared via ATRP of styrene with the discotic six‐functional initiator, 2,3,6,7,10,11‐hexakis(2‐bromoisobutyryloxy)triphenylene. Next, the terminal bromides of the star‐shaped PS were substituted with azide groups. Afterward, the six‐arm star block copolymer PS‐b‐P3HT was prepared using the click coupling reaction of azide‐terminated star‐shaped PS with alkynyl‐terminated P3HT. Various techniques including ¹H NMR, Fourier‐transform infrared and size‐exclusion chromatography were applied to characterize the chemical structures of the intermediates and the target block copolymers. Their thermal behaviors and optical properties were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry and UV–vis spectroscopy. Moreover, atomic force microscopy (AFM) was utilized to observe the morphology of the star block copolymer films. In comparison with two linear diblock copolymer counterparts, AFM results reveal the effect of the star block copolymer architecture on the microphase separation‐induced morphology in thin films. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

原子转移自由基聚合合成甲基丙烯酸丁酯与丙烯酸全氟烷基乙酯两嵌段共聚物及其性能的研究

通过原子转移聚合合成了大分子引发剂PBMA Br及系列含氟两嵌段共聚物P(BMA b FAEM) ,并利用1 H NMR、F EA、GPC、FTIR对其结构进行了表征 .所合成的含氟嵌段共聚物膜具有低临界表面张力 .本文通过接触角的测定研究了含氟两嵌段共聚物的憎水、憎油性能与共聚物的含氟量 ,热处理温度 ,热处理时间的关系 ,结果表明含氟嵌段PFAEM具有向空气 聚合物界面富集的倾向 ,在共聚物中引入含氟嵌段可以明显提高共聚物的憎水、憎油性 .当含氟嵌段达 7 6wt%时 ,临界表面张力 (γc =18 7mN m)已与聚四氟乙烯相当 (γc=18 5mN m) ,显示出明显的低表面能特征     

Effect of γ-irradiation and thermal annealing on the molecular–topological structure of a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluoro(propyl vinyl ether)

The molecular–topological structure of a copolymer of tetrafluoroethylene and perfluoro(propyl vinyl ether) subjected to γ-irradiation and thermal annealing has been studied for the first time with the use of thermomechanical spectrometry. The pseudonetwork structure of the copolymer contains an amorphous block (interjunction chains) and crystalline segments (branching points). The diblock amorphous and crystalline structure with a crystal structure fraction of 0.21 transformed into an almost completely amorphous structure with a crystallite fraction of 0.06 after the irradiation of the copolymer at a dose of 600 kGy. Thermal annealing at 483 K formed a new structure: a high-temperature amorphous block.     

Enhanced mobility in P3HT-based OTFTs upon blending with a phenylene-thiophene-thiophene-phenylene small molecule

An enhancement in charge transport capacity in a poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT) semicrystalline film, up to field-effect mobilities approaching 0.1 cm(2) V(-1) s(-1), has been achieved by co-deposition with a small molecule, i.e. 5,5'-bis(4-n-hexylphenyl)-2,2'-bithiophene (dH-PTTP), forming highly ordered crystals bridging large polymeric domains.     

Influence of Gamma-Irradiation and Thermal Annealing on Molecular–Topological Structure of Tetrafluoroethylene–Ethylene Copolymer

The molecular–topological structure of a tetrafluoroethylene copolymer with ethylene after γ-irradiation and thermal annealing has been studied. The pseudo-network structure of the copolymer contains, in addition to the amorphous block, crystalline segments of macromolecules in the role of branching sites. Topologically, the diblock structure of the copolymer after thermal annealing at 538 K is transformed into a three-block structure with the appearance of a high-temperature amorphous block. Irradiation of the copolymer with γ-rays to a dose of 150 kGy does not lead to appreciable changes in its molecular–topological structure.     

Surface segregation of polypeptide-based block copolymer micelles: An approach to engineer nanostructured and stimuli responsive surfaces

We describe the surface segregation of polypeptide-based block copolymer micelles to produce stimuli-responsive nanostructures at the polymer blend/air interface. Such structures were obtained by simultaneous surface migration and self assembly at the surface of diblock copolymer/homopolymer blends. We employed blends composed of homopolymer (PS) and an amphiphilic block copolymer polystyrene-b-poly(l-glutamic acid) (PS-b-PGA). The surface was functionalized based on the preferential segregation to the polymer blend/air interface of the hydrophilic PGA block of the diblock copolymer upon annealing to water vapor. The surface migration of the diblock copolymer to the interface was demonstrated both by XPS and contact angle measurements. As a consequence, the PGA interfacial attraction leads to a large surface excess on diblock copolymer which in turn, through macrophase and microphase separation, produced separated domains at the surface with regions composed either of homo or block copolymer. Herein we demonstrate that the use of asymmetric diblock copolymers with a higher content in PS lead to spherical micellar assemblies randomly distributed at the surface. As observed by AFM imaging the blend composition, i.e. the amount of block copolymer within the blend influences the density of micelles at the surface. Finally, when exposed to water, the pH affects the surface morphology. The PGA segments are collapsed at low pH values and extended at pH values above 4.8, thus inducing variations on the topography of the films at the nanometer scale.     

嵌段序列对聚合物囊泡形成过程影响的Monte Carlo模拟

采用Monte Carlo模拟方法研究了具有相同链长和组分比的不同嵌段序列的AB两嵌段共聚物与ABA三嵌段共聚物在选择性溶剂中形成囊泡的动力学过程. 模拟结果表明, AB两嵌段共聚物囊泡的形成与ABA三嵌段共聚物囊泡的形成的动力学过程不同. 在慢速退火条件下, ABA三嵌段共聚物囊泡是通过亲水链段向胶束的表面和中心扩散而形成的, 而AB两嵌段共聚物囊泡则由片层弯曲闭合而形成. 相对而言, 退火速度对AB两嵌段共聚物囊泡形成的动力学过程没有显著影响, 其改变仅影响亲水链段与疏水链段发生相分离的难易程度. 当退火速度较快时, 亲水链段和疏水链段发生相分离的速度较快且相分离发生在囊泡形成之前; 而当退火速度较慢时亲水链段和疏水链段之间的相分离在囊泡形成之后仍在进行.     

Tailoring block copolymer morphologies via alkyne/azide cycloaddition

We investigated the morphological transitions induced by alkyne/azide Huisgen 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition reaction in a series of poly(ethylene oxide)‐block‐poly(n‐butyl methacrylate‐random‐propargyl methacrylate) (PEO‐b‐P(nBMA‐r‐PgMA)) diblock copolymers. Studies on the phase behavior of neat diblock copolymers revealed that the interactions between the PEO block and the terminal alkyne groups in the P(nBMA‐r‐PgMA) block significantly affected the miscibility between the two blocks and the crystallization of the PEO block. Phase‐mixed diblock copolymers underwent disorder‐to‐order transitions by blending with Rhodamine B azide and annealing at elevated temperatures. Different morphologies were achieved, not only by controlling the composition of the block copolymer but also by blending the diblock copolymer with different amount of azides. Microphase separated PEO‐b‐P(nBMA‐r‐PgMA) diblock copolymer also exhibited reactivity toward azides, and order‐to‐order transitions were observed. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2011     

Insights into poly(3‐hexylthiophene)‐b‐poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymer: Synthesis and solvent‐induced structure formation in thin films

We report the synthesis, characterization, and solvent‐induced structure formation in thin films of an amphiphilic rod‐coil conjugated block copolymer, poly(3‐hexylthiophene)‐b‐poly(ethylene oxide). The diblock copolymers were prepared by a facile click reaction and their characterizations as well as thermal, crystalline, optical properties, and self‐assembly behavior have been investigated in detail. A series of morphologies including two‐phase separated nanostructure, nanofibrils, and their mixed morphology could be obtained depending on the selectivity of solvents to different blocks. Structural analyses demonstrate there is a subtle balance between microphase separation of copolymer and the π‐π stacking of the conjugated P3HT and such balance can be controlled by changing the solvents of different selectivity in solution and the length of P3HT block. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Reactively and physically compatibilized immiscible polymer blends: stability of the copolymer at the interface

This paper reports on the interfacial behaviour of block and graft copolymers used as compatibilizers in immiscible polymer blends. A limited residence time of the copolymer at the interface has been shown in both reactive blending and blend compatibilization by preformed copolymers. Polystyrene (PS)/polyamide6 (PA6), polyphenylene oxide (PPO)/PA6 and polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA)/PA6 blends have been reactively compatibilized by a styrene-maleic anhydride copolymer SMA. The extent of miscibility of SMA with PS, PPO and PMMA is a key criterion for the stability of the graft copolymer at the interface. For the first 10 to 15 minutes of mixing, the in situ formed copolymer is able to decrease the particle size of the dispersed phase and to prevent it from coalescencing. However, upon increasing mixing time, the copolymer leaves the interface which results in phase coalescence. In PS/LDPE blends compatibilized by preformed PS/hydrogenated polybutadiene (hPB) block copolymers, a tapered diblock stabilizes efficiently a co-continuous two-phase morphology, in contrast to a triblock copolymer that was unable to prevent phase coarsening during annealing at 180°C for 150 minutes.     

聚四氢呋喃-聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯两嵌段共聚物的结晶行为

报导了系列聚四氢呋喃-聚甲基丙烯酸甲酯结晶-非晶(硬段型)两嵌段共聚物的结晶行为，结果表明，其微相分离和结晶规律与文献上唯一进行过系统研究的同类嵌段共聚物(PEO－b－PS)都有较大的差别；结晶段结晶能力的大小是制约这类体系微相分离和结晶规律的一个重要因素．