High‐efficiency blue light‐emitting polymers based on 3,6‐silafluorene and 2,7‐silafluorene

A novel blue‐emitting polymer based on 3,6‐silafluorene and 2,7‐silafluorene was synthesized via the Suzuki polycondensation. The resulting polymers are readily soluble in common organic solvents, such as toluene, xylene, THF, and chloroform. The thermal, electrochemical, photophysical, and electroluminescence properties of the resulting polymers were investigated. The device fabricated from the copolymer with a configuration of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/PVK/polymer/Ba/Al exhibited an external quantum efficiency of 1.95%, a luminous efficiency of 1.69 cd A^?1 and a maximal brightness of 6000 cd m^?2. It has been found that the incorporation of the 3,6‐silafluorene unit into the poly(2,7‐silafluorene) main chain can not only improve the color purity of the devices from the resulting copolymer but also enhance its device efficiency. Moreover, no undesired long‐wavelength green emission was observed in the PL spectra of P36‐27SiF90 compared to that of PFO with a dominating emission at 500–600 nm after thermal annealing at 200 °C for 8 h. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 4941–4949, 2007     

Versatile preparation of poly(1,4‐phenylenevinylene‐co‐1,4‐phenylene‐1,2‐ethanediyl) by CVD polymerization of p‐(methoxymethyl)benzyl chloride

It was demonstrated that a series of copolymers consisting of 1,4‐phenylenevinylene (PV) and 1,4‐phenylene‐1,2‐ethanediyl (PE) units could be prepared from a single monomer, p‐(methoxymethyl)benzyl chloride, via the chemical vapor deposition polymerization (CVDP) method. The composition of the copolymers could be varied simply by altering the monomer activation temperature. The higher the temperature, the lower the content of the PV unit. The photo (PL)‐ and electroluminescence (EL) properties of the copolymers that revealed a blueshift when compared with PPV strongly depend on the amount of the PE units incorporated. The external quantum efficiencies of the electroluminescence devices having the configuration of ITO/PEDOT‐PSS/copolymer/Al‐Li were higher than that of PPV, which can be ascribed to the improved confinement of excitons. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 742–751, 2005     

Synthesis and opto‐electrical properties of dendron‐containing poly(2,3‐diphenyl‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene) derivatives

A new series of poly(2,3‐diphenyl‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene) derivatives containing dendritic side groups were synthesized. Different generations of dendrons were integrated on the pendant phenyl ring to investigate their effect on optical and electrical properties of final polymers. Homopolymers can not be obtained via the Gilch polymerization because of sterically bulky dendrons. By controlling the feed ratio of different monomers during polymerization, dendron‐containing copolymers with high molecular weights were obtained. The UV–vis absorption and photoluminescent spectra of the thin films are pretty close; however, quantum efficiency is significantly enhanced with increasing the generation of dendrons. The electrochemical analysis reveals that hole‐injection is also improved by increasing dendritic generation. Double‐layer light‐emitting devices with the configuration of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/polymer/Ca/Al were fabricated. High generation dendrons bring benefit of improved device performance. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 3440–3450, 2007     

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     

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     

Synthesis and electro‐optical properties of light‐emitting polymers containing oxadiazole derivatives for light‐emitting diodes applications

Two PPV‐based bipolar polymers containing 1,3,4‐oxadiazole pendant groups were synthesized via the Gilch polymerization reaction for use in light‐emitting diodes (LEDs). The resulting polymers were characterized using ¹H and ¹³C NMR, elemental analysis, DSC, and TGA. These polymers were found to be soluble in common organic solvents and are easily spin‐coated onto glass substrates, producing high optical quality thin films without defects. The electro‐optical properties of ITO/PEDOT/polymer/Al devices based on these polymers were investigated using UV‐visible, PL, and EL spectroscopy. The turn‐on voltages of the OC₁Oxa‐PPV and OC₁₀Oxa‐PPV devices were found to be 8.0 V. The maximum brightness and luminescence efficiency of the OC₁Oxa‐PPV device were found to be 544 cd/m² at 19 V and 0.15 cd/A, respectively. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 1098–1110, 2008     

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     

Synthesis and optoelectronic properties of silole‐containing polyfluorenes with binary structures

2,5‐Bis(2‐bromofluorene‐7‐yl)silole was prepared by a modified one‐pot synthesis with a reverse addition procedure, from which novel silole‐containing polyfluorenes with binary random and alternating structures (silole contents between 4.5 and 25% and high M_w up to 509 kDa were successfully synthesized. The well‐defined repeating unit of the alternating copolymer comprises a terfluorene and a silole ring. Optoelectronic properties including UV absorption, electrochemistry, photoluminescence (PL), and electroluminescence (EL) of the copolymers were examined. The different excitation energy transfers from fluorene to silole of the copolymers in solution and in the solid state were compared. The films of the copolymers showed silole‐dominant green emissions with high absolute PL quantum yields up to 83%. EL devices of the copolymers with a configuration of ITO/PEDOT/copolymer/Ba/Al displayed exclusive silole emissions peaked at around 543 nm and the highest EL efficiency was achieved with the alternating copolymer. Using the alternating copolymer and poly(9,9‐dioctylfluorene) as the blend‐type emissive layer, a maximum external quantum efficiency of 1.99% (four times to that of the neat film) was realized, which was a high efficiency so far reported for silole‐containing polymers. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 756–767, 2007     

Polyfluorenes minimally doped with 1,4‐bis(2‐thienyl‐2‐cyanovinyl)benzene chromophore: Their synthesis,characterization, and application to white‐light‐emitting materials

Copolyfluorenes ( PFR1 and PFR2 ), chemically doped with 0.1 and 0.025 mol % 2,5‐dihexyloxy‐1,4‐bis(2‐thienyl‐2‐cyanovinyl)benzene (MR chromophere) were synthesized by the Suzuki coupling reaction. The PFR s were used to fabricate white‐light‐emitting devices through incomplete energy transfer. Because of the low content of the MR chromophore, the optical, thermal, and electrochemical properties of the PFR s were almost identical to those of polyfluorene, except for their photoluminescent (PL) and electroluminescent (EL) properties. The copolymer films showed PL peaks at about 428 and 570 nm originating from fluorene segments and MR chromophores, respectively. Compared with the model compound ( MR ), the polymer chains extended the conjugation length of the MR chromophores and exhibited a 20–48 nm red‐shift in the emission band. In addition, the lower LUMO level of the MR (?3.27 eV) was expected to improve the electron injection. The EL devices [ITO/PEDOT:PSS/ PFR s/Ca (50 nm)/Al (100 nm)] showed a broad emission band, covering the entire visible region, with chromaticity coordinates of (0.36, 0.35) and (0.32, 0.30) for PFR1 and PFR2 devices, respectively. The emission color of the PFR2 device was very similar to that of a pure white light (0.33, 0.33); and the maximal brightness and current efficiency were 3011 cd/m² and 1.98 cd/A, respectively, which surpass those found for polyfluorene devices (1005 cd/m², 0.28 cd/A). A). © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 3703–3713, 2008     

Highly substituted poly(2,3‐diphenyl‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene) derivatives having bulky phenyl and fluorenyl pendant groups: Synthesis,characterization, and electro‐optical properties

Two series of poly(2,3‐diphenyl‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene) (DP‐PPV) derivatives containing multiple bulky substituents were synthesized. In the first series, two different groups were incorporated on C‐5,6 positions of the phenylene moiety to increase steric hindrance and to obtain blue‐shifted emissions. In the second series, bulky fluorenyl groups with two hexyl chains on the C‐9 position were introduced on two phenyl pendants to increase the solubility as well as steric hindrance to prevent close packing of the main chain. Polymers with high molecular weights and fine‐tuned electro‐optical properties were obtained by controlling the feed ratio of different monomers during polymerization. The maximum photoluminescent emissions of the thin films are located between 384 and 541 nm. Cyclic voltammetric analysis reveals that the band gaps of these light‐emitting materials are in the range from 2.4 to 3.3 eV. A double‐layer EL device with the configuration of ITO/PEDOT/P4/Ca/Al emitted pure green light with CIE′1931 at (0.24, 0.5). Using copolymer P6 as the emissive layer, the maximum luminescence and current efficiency were both improved when compared with the homopolymer P4. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6738–6749, 2006     

Deep‐blue light‐emitting polyfluorenes containing spiro[fluorene‐9,9′‐thioxanthene‐S,S‐dioxide] isomers

Blue light‐emitting polyfluorenes, PPF‐FSOs and PPF‐SOFs were synthesized via introducing spiro[fluorene‐9,9′‐thioxanthene‐S,S‐dioxide] isomers (2,7‐diyl and 2′,7′‐diyl) (FSO/SOF) into the poly[9,9‐bis(4‐(2‐ethylhexyloxy) phenyl)fluorene‐2,7‐diyl] (PPF) backbone, respectively. With the increasing contents of FSO and SOF moieties, the absorption and PL spectra of PPF‐FSOs show slight red shift, while that of PPF‐SOFs exhibit blue shift, respectively. The HOMO and LUMO levels reduce gradually with increasing SOF unit in PPF‐SOFs. The polymers emit blue light peaked around 430–445 nm and show an excellent spectral stability with the variation in current densities. The distinctly narrowing EL spectra were observed with the incorporation of isomers in the polymers. The full width at half maximum reduced by 15 nm for PPF‐SOFs, resulting in a blue shift with the CIE coordinates from (0.16, 0.11) to (0.16, 0.08). With a device configuration of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/EML/CsF/Al, a maximum luminance efficiency (LE_max) of 2.00 cd A^?1, a maximum external quantum efficiency (EQE_max) of 3.76% with the CIE coordinates of (0.16, 0.08) for PPF‐SOF15 and a LE_max of 1.68 cd A^?1, a EQE_max of 2.38% with CIE (0.16, 0.12) for PPF‐FSO10 were obtained, respectively. The result reveals that spiro[fluorene‐9,9′‐thioxanthene‐S,S‐dioxide] isomers are promising blocks for deep‐blue light‐emitting polymers. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55 , 2332–2341     

Random terpolymers for electroluminescent devices: Synthesis and characterization of new cyano‐containing poly(fluorenylene‐vinylene)s

The synthesis of new random poly(2,7‐fluorenylene‐vinylene)s was achieved by a Suzuki–Heck cascade polymerization reaction. The poly(fluorenylene‐vinylene) base structure was modified by the regio‐random incorporation of 1‐cyano‐2,5‐phenylene as electron withdrawing unit ( CN‐PFV1 ) and its properties were compared with terpolymers also embodying 1,4‐dioctyloxy‐2,5‐phenylene ( CN‐PFV2 ) or 3,6‐N‐octylcarbazole ( CN‐PFV3 ) as electron‐donating moieties. Thermal analysis revealed a high thermal stability (T_d > 389 °C) and the absence of glass transitions for all polymers. Cyclic voltammetry indicated a high electron affinity of the materials (2.96–3.21 eV) attributed to the presence of the cyano‐containing comonomer. In dilute solutions, the copolymers showed a broad green fluorescence with quantum yields ranging from 0.42 to 0.79, while in the solid state, a relatively narrow emission centered at ～ 560 nm, governed by the low‐energy segments within the π‐conjugated backbone, was observed. The electroluminescence properties of the materials were tested in OLED devices of ITO/PEDOT‐PSS/ CN‐PFV1‐3 /Ca/Al or ITO/PEDOT‐PSS/ CN‐PFV1‐3 /Alq₃/Ca/Al configurations, showing a bright green‐yellow emission that, in the case of CN‐PFV2 , reached 1403 cd/m² with efficiencies as high as 0.13 cd/A. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 6051–6063, 2008     

Luminescent copolyethers containing isolated 1,4‐distyrylbenzene derivatives backbone and 7‐oxy‐4‐methylcoumarin side group: Synthesis and characterization

Four new copolyethers ( P1 – P4 ) consisting of two isolated emitting chromophores [2,5‐dihexyloxy‐1,4‐distyrylbenzene (HODSB) and 2,5‐dihexyloxy‐1,4‐di(4‐methylenestyryl)benzene (HOMDSB) for P1 and P2 , 2,5‐dihexyl‐1,4‐distyrylbenzene (HDSB) and HOMDSB for P3 and P4 ] in the backbone, in which P2 and P4 further contain electron‐transporting chromophores [7‐oxy‐4‐methylcoumarin (OMC)] in the side chain, were successfully prepared by the Heck coupling reaction. The photoluminescence spectra and quantum yields of the copolymers depended mainly on compositions of the isolated fluorophores. Their highest occupied molecular orbital and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital energy levels were estimated from their cyclic voltammograms. Electrochemical investigations proved that the oxidation started at hole‐transporting DSB segments, whereas reduction began at electron‐transporting OMC groups in P2 and P4 . The electron affinity of P2 and P4 was enhanced by introducing electron‐transporting OMC chromophores. Double‐layer light‐emitting diodes (ITO/PEDOT:PSS / polymer/Al) of P1 and P2 revealed green electroluminescence, and those of P3 and P4 emitted blue light. Moreover, incorporation of OMC side groups effectively reduced turn‐on electric field and enhanced luminance efficiency of the EL devices due to increased electron affinity. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 211–221, 2007     

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     

Cascade hole transport in efficient green phosphorescent light‐emitting devices achieved by layer‐by‐layer solution deposition using photocrosslinkable‐conjugated polymers containing oxetane side‐chain moieties

A hole‐injection/transport bilayer structure on an indium tin oxide (ITO) layer was fabricated using two photocrosslinkable polymers with different molecular energy levels. Two photoreactive polymers were synthesized using 2,7‐(or 3,6‐)‐dibromo‐9‐(6‐((3‐methyloxetan‐3‐yl)methoxy)hexyl)‐9H‐carbazole) and 2,4‐dimethyl‐N,N‐bis(4‐ (4,4,5,5‐tetramethyl‐1,3,2‐dioxaborolan‐2‐yl)phenyl)aniline via a Suzuki coupling reaction. When the oxetane groups were photopolymerized in the presence of a cationic photoinitiator, the photocured film showed good solvent resistance and compatibility with a poly(N‐vinylcarbazole) (PVK)‐based emitting layer. Without the use of a conventional hole injection layer (HIL) of poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene)/(polystyrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), the resulting green light‐emitting device bearing PVK: 5‐4‐tert‐butylphenyl‐1,3,4‐oxadiazole (PBD):Ir(Cz‐ppy)3 exhibited a maximum external quantum efficiency of 9.69%; this corresponds to a luminous efficiency of 29.57 cd/A for the device K‐4 configuration ITO/POx‐I/POx‐II/PVK:PBD:Ir(Cz‐ppy)3/triazole/Alq3/LiF/Al. These values are much higher than those of PLEDs using conventional PEDOT:PSS as a single HIL. The significant improvement in device efficiency is the result of suppression of the hole injection/transport properties through double‐layered photocrosslinked‐conjugated polymers. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Synthesis and characterization of color‐stable electroluminescent polymers: Poly(dinaphtho[1,2‐a:1′,2′‐g]‐s‐indacene)s

Two new stepladder conjugated polymers, that is, poly(7,7,15,15‐tetraoctyldinaphtho[1,2‐a:1′,2′‐g]‐s‐indacene) (PONSI) and poly(7,7,15,15‐tetra(4‐octylphenyl)dinaphtho[1,2‐a:1′,2′‐g]‐s‐indacene) (PANSI) with alkyl and aryl substituents, respectively, have been synthesized and characterized. In comparison with poly(indenofluorene)s, both polymers have extended conjugation at the direction perpendicular to the polymer backbone because of the introduction of naphthalene moieties. The emission color of the polymers in film state is strongly dependent on the substituents. While PONSI emits at a maximum of 463 nm, PANSI with the same backbone but aryl substituents displays dramatically redshifted emission with a maximum at 494 nm. Both polymers show stable photoluminescence spectra while annealing at 200 °C in inert atmosphere. The PONSI‐based devices with the configuration of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/polymer/Ca/Al turn on at 3.7 V, and emit at a maximum of 461 nm with the CIE coordinates of (0.19, 0.26), a maximum luminance efficiency of 1.40 cd/A, and a maximum brightness of 2036 cd/m² at 13 V. Meanwhile, the emission color of the devices is independent of driving voltage and keeps unchanged during the continuous operation. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 4866–4878, 2008     

Highly Conductive PEDOT:PSS Films with 1,3‐Dimethyl‐2‐Imidazolidinone as Transparent Electrodes for Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes

Highly conductive poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) films as transparent electrodes for organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) are doped with a new solvent 1,3‐dimethyl‐2‐imidazolidinone (DMI) and are optimized using solvent post‐treatment. The DMI doped PEDOT:PSS films show significantly enhanced conductivities up to 812.1 S cm⁻¹. The sheet resistance of the PEDOT:PSS films doped with DMI is further reduced by various solvent post‐treatment. The effect of solvent post‐treatment on DMI doped PEDOT:PSS films is investigated and is shown to reduce insulating PSS in the conductive films. The solvent posttreated PEDOT:PSS films are successfully employed as transparent electrodes in white OLEDs. It is shown that the efficiency of OLEDs with the optimized DMI doped PEDOT:PSS films is higher than that of reference OLEDs doped with a conventional solvent (ethylene glycol). The results present that the optimized PEDOT:PSS films with the new solvent of DMI can be a promising transparent electrode for low‐cost, efficient ITO‐free white OLEDs.

     

Fluorene copolymers containing bithiophene/2,5‐ or 2,6‐pyridine units: A study of their optical,electrochemical, and electroluminescence properties

Two alternating copolymers, poly[(2,5‐di(2‐thienyl)‐pyridine‐5,5′‐diyl)‐alt‐(9,9‐dioctylfluorene‐2,7‐diyl)], PFO‐TPy25T, and poly[(2,6‐di(2‐thienyl)‐pyridine‐5,5′‐diyl)‐alt‐(9,9‐dioctylfluorene‐2,7‐diyl)], PFO‐TPy26T, were synthesized by the Pd‐catalyzed Suzuki polymerization method. The pyridine units are present as trimeric monomers in these copolymers and have different connectivities to their two neighboring thiophenes, para‐ and meta‐linkages. We investigated the variations in the optical and electrochemical properties of the copolymers that arise from these different connectivities. The two polymers exhibit 5% weight loss above 410 °C and high glass transition temperatures (T_g: 113 °C for PFO‐TPy25T, 142 °C for PFO‐TPy26T). The UV–vis absorption maximum peaks of PFO‐TPy25T and PFO‐TPy26T in the solid state were found to be 449 and 398 nm respectively, with photoluminescence maximum peaks in the solid state of 573 and 490 nm respectively. Using cyclic voltammetry, we determined their energy band gaps: 3.08 eV for PFO‐TPy25T and 3.49 eV for PFO‐TPy25T. The cyclic voltammetry study of these polymers revealed that there are some differences. The electroluminescence (EL) properties of the copolymers were measured for the device configuration of ITO/PEDOT/polymers/Ca/Al. The device fabricated with the polymer containing 2,5‐pyridine exhibits pale orange emission, whereas the device fabricated with the polymer containing 2,6‐pyridine exhibits pale blue emission. The EL device fabricated with PFO‐TPy25T has a higher brightness (2010 cd/m²) and external quantum efficiency (0.1%) than the PFO‐TPy26T device (260 cd/m², 0.008%), because it has a smaller energy barrier to the injection of charges from PEDOT and Ca into the HOMO and LUMO levels. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 4611–4620, 2006     

Coumarin‐containing poly(fluorenediylvinylene)s: Synthesis,photophysics, and electroluminescence

Two new poly(fluorenediylvinylene)s (CV and CF) with coumarin side chains were synthesized via Heck coupling. The coumarin segments were attached to the C‐9 of fluorene through alkyl spacers. The polymers were soluble in common organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran (THF), chloroform, dichloromethane, and toluene. The photoluminescence (PL), electroluminescence (EL), and electrochemical behavior of these polymers were studied. CV and CF thin films exhibited broad‐band, bluish‐green and orange PL emissions, with maxima at 475 and 585 nm, respectively. These PL maxima were redshifted in comparison with those measured in THF solutions. Aggregate formation played an important role in the solid state. The aggregation was more pronounced in CF thin films than CV thin films. Both polymers oxidized and reduced irreversibly. Light‐emitting devices (LEDs) with indium tin oxide hole‐injecting and aluminum electron‐injecting electrodes were prepared and studied. The LEDs made of CV emitted green light, and the LEDs made of CF exhibited an orange EL emissions. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 5750–5762, 2006     

Synthesis and characterization of indenofluorene‐based copolymers containing 2,5‐bis(2‐thienyl)‐N‐arylpyrrole for bulk heterojunction solar cells and polymer light‐emitting diodes

Two novel alternating π‐conjugated copolymers, poly[2,8‐(6,6′,12,12′‐tetraoctyl‐6,12‐dihydroindeno‐[1,2b]fluorene‐ alt‐5(1‐(2,6‐diisopropylphenyl)‐2,5‐di(2‐thienyl)pyrrole) ( P1 ) and poly[2,8‐(6,6′,12,12′‐tetraoctyl‐6,12‐dihydroindeno‐[1,2b]fluorene‐ alt‐5(1‐(p‐octylphenyl)‐2,5‐di(2‐thienyl)pyrrole) ( P2 ), were synthesized via the Suzuki coupling method and their optoelectronic properties were investigated. The resulting polymers P1 and P2 were completely soluble in various common organic solvents and their weight‐average molecular weights (M_w) were 5.66 × 10⁴ (polydispersity: 1.97) and 2.13× 10⁴ (polydispersity: 1.54), respectively. Bulk heterojunction (BHJ) solar cells were fabricated in ITO/PEDOT:PSS/polymer:PC₇₀BM(1:5)/TiO_x/Al configurations. The BHJ solar cell with P1 :PC₇₀BM (1:5) has a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 1.12% (J_sc= 3.39 mA/cm², V_oc= 0.67 V, FF = 49.31%), measured using AM 1.5 G solar simulator at 100 mW/cm² light illumination. We fabricated polymer light‐emitting diodes (PLEDs) in ITO/PEDOT:PSS/emitting polymer:polyethylene glycol (PEG)/Ba/Al configurations. The electroluminescence (EL) maxima of the fabricated PLEDs varied from 526 nm to 556 nm depending on the ratio of the polymer to PEG. The turn‐on voltages of the PLEDs were in the range of 3–8 V depending on the ratio of the polymer to PEG, and the maximum brightness and luminance efficiency were 2103 cd/m² and 0.37 cd/A at 12 V, respectively. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 3169–3177, 2010