Structures and properties of liquid‐crystalline polymers based on laterally attached oligo p‐phenylenes

The structures and properties of liquid‐crystalline polymers containing laterally attached p‐terphenyl and p‐pentaphenyl have been studied. In contrast to their mesogenic groups, that is, p‐terphenyl and p‐pentaphenyl, the polymers have much lower crystallinity and also lower nematic‐to‐isotropic transition temperatures. The significant depression in crystallinity can be attributed to flexible chain segments laterally attached to the oligo p‐phenylene rods, which prevent close packing of the rods and thus disrupt the crystallization. The destabilization of the liquid‐crystalline phase is due to the diluting effect of the flexible polymer backbones; that is, the concentration of the mesogenic groups is reduced. The polymer containing p‐pentaphenyl can still exhibit good solubility in common solvents and emit light at about 402 nm in the solvent tetrahydrofuran. In the solid state, the emission redshifts to 418 nm, which is fairly close to the blue‐light emission. An interdigitated packing structure of mesogenic groups has been proposed to represent the structure of the polymer in the oriented state. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3394–3402, 2005     

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     

Blue‐emitting poly(1,3‐phenylenevinylene) derivatives: Effect of substitution patterns on optical properties

Blue‐emitting poly{[5‐(diphenylamino)‐1,3‐phenylenevinylene]‐alt‐(2‐hexyloxy‐5‐methyl‐1,3‐phenylenevinylene)} ( 3 ), poly{[5‐bis‐(4‐butyl‐phenylamino)‐1,3‐phenylenevinylene]‐alt‐(1,3‐phenylene vinylene)} ( 4 ), and poly(2‐hexyloxy‐5‐methyl‐1,3‐phenylenevinylene) ( 5 ) were synthesized by the Wittig–Horner reaction. Although polymers 3–5 possess fluorescent quantum yields of only 13–34% in tetrahydrofuran solution, their films appear to be highly luminescent. Attachments of substituents tuned the emission color of thin films to the desirable blue region (λ_max = 462–477 nm). Double‐layer light‐emitting‐diode devices with 3 and 5 as an emissive layer produced blue emission (λ_em = 474 and 477 nm) with turn‐on voltages of 8 and 11 V, respectively. The external quantum efficiencies were up to 0.13%. © 2005Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 2800–2809, 2005     

Understanding of nanogels swelling behavior through a deep insight into their morphology

A thorough understanding of the morphology of the environmental sensitive nanogels was indispensable to obtain a deeper insight on their stimuli‐responsive behavior. Therefore, in this work the colloidal characterization and the study of the inner morphology were related by using light scattering technique and ¹H‐nuclear magnetic resonance transverse relaxation measurements combined with the Flory–Rehner theory. Different biocompatible and dual‐stimuli‐sensitive nanogel particles based on poly(2‐diethylaminoethyl) methacrylate were synthesized using three different crosslinkers: two bifunctional and one multifunctional. All the nanogels obtained had a core–shell type heterogeneous morphology, but they presented completely different swelling behaviors due to their different crosslinking points’ distribution and polymeric chains’ microstructure. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2015 , 53, 2017–2025     

Synthesis and properties of fluorene‐based polyheteroarylenes for photovoltaic devices

Novel copolymers consisting of the alternating push–pull comonomers fluorene and thieno[3,4‐b]pyrazine/quinoxaline were synthesized by a palladium‐catalyzed Suzuki cross‐coupling reaction in 60–80% yields. The structure of the deeply colored copolymers was confirmed with ¹H and ¹³C NMR. All the new materials were characterized with spectroscopic and electrochemical methods. Bulk heterojunction organic solar cells based on some of the novel polymers in combination with the well‐known fullerene acceptor [6,6]‐phenyl C₆₁–butyric acid methyl ester were fabricated, and their photovoltaic parameters were measured. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 6952–6961, 2006     

Synthesis and facile end‐group quantification of functionalized PEG azides

Azido‐functionalized poly(ethylene glycol) (PEG) derivatives are finding ever‐increasing applications in the areas of conjugation chemistry and targeted drug delivery by their judicious incorporation into nanoparticle‐forming polymeric systems. Quantification of azide incorporation into such PEG polymers is essential to their effective use. ¹H Nuclear Magnetic Resonance (NMR) analysis offers the simplest approach; however, the relevant adjacent azide‐bearing methylene protons are often obscured by the PEG manifold signals. This study describes the synthesis of 1,2,3‐triazole adducts from their corresponding PEG azides via a convenient, mild click reaction, which facilitates straightforward NMR‐based quantitative end‐group analysis.This method was found to be compatible with many examples of bifunctional azido PEGs with molecular weights ranging from 2 to 18 kDa bearing a variety of functional groups. © 2016 The Authors. Journal of Polymer Science Part A: Polymer Chemistry Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 2888–2895     

Syntheses and electroluminescence properties of conjugated poly(p‐phenylene vinylene) derivatives bearing dendritic pendants

A series of new poly(p‐phenylene vinylene) derivatives with different dendritic pendants—poly{2‐[3′,5′‐bis(2″‐ethylhexyloxy)benzyloxy]‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene} (BE–PPV), poly{2‐[3′,5′‐bis(3″,7″‐dimethyl)octyloxy]‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene} (BD–PPV), poly(2‐{3′,5′‐bis[3″,5″‐bis(2?‐ethylhexyloxy)benzyloxy]benzyloxy}‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene) (BBE–PPV), poly(2‐{3′,5′‐bis[3″,5″‐bis(3?,7?‐dimethyloctyloxy)benzyloxy]benzyloxy}‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene) (BBD–PPV), and poly[(2‐{3′,5′‐bis[3″,5″‐bis(2?‐ethylhexyloxy)benzyloxy]benzyloxy}‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene)‐co‐(2‐{3′,5′‐bis[3″,5″‐bis(3?,7?‐dimethyloctyloxy)benzyloxy]benzyloxy}‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene)] (BBE‐co‐BBD–PPV; 1:1)—were successfully synthesized according to the Gilch route. The structures and properties of the monomers and the resulting conjugated polymers were characterized with ¹H and ¹³C NMR, elemental analysis, gel permeation chromatography, thermogravimetric analysis, ultraviolet–visible absorption spectroscopy, photoluminescence, and electroluminescence spectroscopy. The obtained polymers possessed excellent solubility in common solvents and good thermal stability, with a 5% weight loss temperature of more than 328 °C. The weight‐average molecular weights and polydispersity indices of BE–PPV, BD–PPV, BBE–PPV, BBD–PPV, and BBE‐co‐BBD–PPV (1:1) were in the range of 1.33–2.28 × 10⁵ and 1.35–1.53, respectively. Double‐layer light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) with the configuration of indium tin oxide/polymer/tris(8‐hydroxyquinoline) aluminum/Mg:Ag/Ag devices were fabricated, and they emitted green‐yellow light. The turn‐on voltages of BE–PPV, BD–PPV, BBE–PPV, BBD–PPV, and BBE‐co‐BBD–PPV (1:1) were approximately 5.6, 5.9, 5.5, 5.2, and 4.8 V, respectively. The LED devices of BE–PPV and BD–PPV possessed the highest electroluminescent performance; they exhibited maximum luminance with about 860 cd/m² at 12.8 V and 651 cd/m² at 13 V, respectively. The maximum luminescence efficiency of BE–PPV and BD–PPV was in the range of 0.37–0.40 cd/A. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3126–3140, 2005     

Pulsed laser polymerization study of the propagation kinetics of acrylamide in water

Pulsed laser polymerization was used in conjunction with aqueous‐phase size exclusion chromatography with multi‐angle laser light scattering detection to determine the propagation rate coefficient (k_p) for the water‐soluble monomer acrylamide. The influence of the monomer concentration was investigated from 0.3 to 2.8 M, and k_p decreased with increasing monomer concentration. These data and data for acrylic acid in water were consistent with this decrease being caused by the depletion of the monomer concentration by dimer formation in water. Two photoinitiators, uranyl nitrate and 2,2′‐azobis(2‐amidinopropane) (V‐50), were used; k_p was dependent on their concentrations. The concentration dependence of k_p was ascribed to a combination of solvent effects arising from association (thermodynamic effects) and changes in the free energy of activation (effects of the solvent on the structure of the reactant and transition state). Arrhenius parameters for k_p (M^?1 s^?1) = 10^7.2 exp(?13.4 kJ mol^?1/RT) and k_p (M^?1 s^?1) = 10^7.1 exp(?12.9 kJ mol^?1/RT) were obtained for 0.002 M uranyl nitrate and V‐50, respectively, with a monomer concentration of 0.32 M. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1357–1368, 2005     

Synthesis,characterization, and thermal properties of a novel pentaerythritol‐initiated star‐shaped poly(p‐dioxanone)

A novel star‐shaped poly(p‐dioxanone) was synthesized by the ring‐opening polymerization of p‐dioxanone initiated by pentaerythritol with stannous octoate as a catalyst in bulk. The effect of the molar ratio of the monomer to the initiator on the polymerization was studied. The polymers were characterized with ¹H NMR and ¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The thermal properties of the polymers were investigated with differential scanning calorimetry and thermogravimetric analysis. The novel star‐shaped poly(p‐dioxanone) has a potential use in biomedical materials. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 44: 1245–1251, 2006     

A new near‐infrared switchable electrochromic polymer and its device application

A new near‐infrared switchable electrochromic polymer containing carbazole pendant (poly‐SNSC), synthesized by electrochemical polymerization of 2,5‐bis‐dithienyl‐1H‐pyrrole (SNS) main chain, has been prepared. The electrochemical and optical properties of SNSC monomer and its polymer have been investigated. Because of having two different electro‐donor moieties; that is, carbazole and SNS, SNSC gave two separate electrochemical oxidation and also light brown color of the film in the neutral state turn into gray on oxidation. An electrochromic device, contructed in the sandwich configuration [indium tin oxide (ITO)‐coated glass/anodically coloring polymer (poly‐SNSC)//gel electrolyte//cathodically coloring polymer (PEDOT)/ITO‐coated glass] and exhibited a high coloration efficiency (1216 cm² C^–1), a very short response time (about 0.3 s), low driving voltage, and a high redox stability. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2010     

Synthesis and self‐assembly of hyperbranched polymers with benzoyl terminal arms

Hyperbranched polyesters (HPs) with a variable content of benzoyl terminal groups were synthesized through the chemical modification of the HPs' cores by substituting a controlled fraction of the terminal hydroxyl groups with benzoyl chloride. The resulting hyperbranched polymers that were modified by benzoyl groups (HPs‐B) were characterized by ¹H NMR, FTIR, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). Research results revealed that self‐assembled structures could be formed in selected solvents (acetone/n‐hexane). It was found that the morphologies of self‐assembled structures could be adjusted by controlling the content of outside benzoyl terminal groups in the hyperbranched polymers, the volume ratio of acetone with n‐hexane, and the concentration of the hyperbranched polymers with benzoyl terminal arms. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 5554–5561, 2005     

Complexation of copper(II) ions with imidazole–carboxylic polymeric systems

The interaction of two polyampholyte systems, poly(1‐vinylimidazole‐co‐acrylic acid) and interpolymer complex poly(acrylic acid)/poly(1‐vinylimidazole) with copper(II) ions in water, was examined with potentiometry (pH‐metry and Cu‐selective electrode) and electron spin‐resonance spectroscopy. Coordination of Cu²⁺ with copolymer proceeded by carboxylic groups, whereas the interpolymer system azole units were also involved in the inner sphere of the complex. Synergism between coordination with metal ions and intramolecular hydrogen or ionic bonds was shown. The interpolymer complex was an effective system for binding, extracting, and concentrating copper ions from water. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 2256–2263, 2003     

Lead‐sensitive PNIPAM microgels modified with crown ether groups

A series of lead‐sensitive poly(N‐isopropylacrylamide) microgels with pendant crown ether groups were prepared. Their cation‐sensitive behaviors were studied by dynamic light scattering. When ionic strength is not controlled, adding salts causes the microgel particles to deswell. However, when the salt effect is ruled out by keeping a constant ionic strength, adding Pb²⁺ results in much larger swelling. The Pb²⁺‐induced swelling was explained by the formation of host–guest complex between Pb²⁺ and the pendant crown ether groups, which increases the hydrophilicity of the polymer and accordingly the degree of swelling. The lead sensitivity of the microgels increases with increasing crown ether content. For the modified microgel with the highest crown ether content, it swells to ～430% of its original volume at [Pb²⁺] = 10 mM. Other cations also increase the swelling degree of the modified microgels. The extent of the cation‐induced swelling mainly depends on their affinity to the pendant crown ether groups. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 4120–4127, 2010     

Organosoluble star polymers from a cyclodextrin core

Well‐defined star polymers were synthesized with a combination of the core‐first method and atom transfer radical polymerization. The control of the architecture of the macroinitiator based on β‐cyclodextrin bearing functional bromide groups was determined by ¹³C NMR, fast atom bombardment mass spectrometry, and elemental analysis. In a second step, the polymerization of the tert‐butyl acrylate monomer was optimized to avoid a star–star coupling reaction and allowed the synthesis of a well‐defined organosoluble polymer star. The determination of the macromolecular dimensions of these new star polymers by size exclusion chromatography/light scattering was in agreement with the structure of armed star polymers in a large range of predicted molecular weights. This article describes a new approach to polyelectrolyte star polymers by postmodification of poly(tert‐butyl acrylate) by acrylic arm hydrolysis in a water‐soluble system. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 5186–5194, 2005     

Preparation of densely grafted poly(aniline‐2‐sulfonic acid‐co‐aniline)s as novel water‐soluble conducting copolymers

Various densely grafted polymers containing poly(aniline‐2‐sulfonic acid‐co‐aniline)s as side chains and polystyrene as the backbone were prepared. A styryl‐substituted aniline macromonomer, 4‐(4‐vinylbenzoxyl)(N‐tert‐butoxycarbonyl)phenylamine (4‐VBPA‐^tBOC), was first prepared by the reaction of 4‐aminophenol with the amino‐protecting moiety di‐tert‐butoxyldicarbonate, and this was followed by substitution with 4‐vinylbenzyl chloride. 4‐VBPA‐^tBOC thus obtained was homopolymerized with azobisisobutyronitrile as an initiator, and this was followed by deprotection with trifluoroacetic acid to generate poly[4‐(4‐vinylbenzoxyl)phenylamine] (PVBPA) with pendent amine moieties. Second, the copolymerization of aniline‐2‐sulfonic acid and aniline was carried out in the presence of PVBPA to generate densely grafted poly(aniline‐2‐sulfonic acid‐co‐aniline). Through the variation of the molar feed ratio of aniline‐2‐sulfonic acid to aniline, various densely grafted copolymers were generated with different aniline‐2‐sulfonic acid/aniline composition ratios along the side chains. The copolymers prepared with molar feed ratios greater than 1/2 were water‐soluble and had conductivities comparable to those of the linear copolymers. Furthermore, these copolymers could self‐dope in water through intermolecular or intramolecular interactions between the sulfonic acid moieties and imine nitrogens, and this generated large aggregates. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 1090–1099, 2005     

Synthesis of a pyrrole‐based methine bridge type liquid‐crystalline conjugated polymer

Conjugated polymers consisting of pyrrole or an N‐substituted pyrrole bridged by methine with a mesogenic group were synthesized. Chemical structures of the products were confirmed with IR, NMR, UV–visible (UV–vis) spectroscopy, and gel permeation chromatography analysis. Liquid crystallinity was examined with differential scanning calorimetry measurements and polarizing optical microscopy observations. Liquid crystal domains of the polymer were macroscopically oriented in one direction by an external magnetic force (10 Tesla). The polymer orientation was confirmed by optical microscopy and X‐ray analysis. One of the polymers exhibited a striated fan‐shaped texture when observed with a polarizing optical microscope. This is attributed to the formation of a chiral smectic C (SmC^*) phase, which is a property of ferroelectricity. Spontaneous polarization of the polymer occurred at 110 nC/cm². © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 616–629, 2005     

Synthesis of new Azo‐based liquid crystalline polymers and their selective sensing behaviors to alkali metal ions

We report novel liquid crystalline (LC) polymers containing pendant azobenzene moieties with n‐dodecyl substituents and ethyleneoxy spacers of different lengths and describe their selective detection behaviors to alkali metal ions. The new azopolymers produce homogenous smectic phases with a typical fan‐shaped texture. UV‐Vis and ¹H NMR studies confirm that the azopolymers selectively bind to Li⁺ and Na⁺, but do not complex with K⁺, Ba²⁺, Mg²⁺, or Ca²⁺. Both the ethyleneoxy spacer and azobenzene units participate in binding to Li⁺ and Na⁺ cations in solution. Interestingly, after formation of the complexed structure, the ratio of cis to trans conformer is considerably increased suggesting stronger interactions of the cis conformer with alkali metal ions. Irradiation of the complexed structure with 365 nm UV induces conversion of the uncomplexed trans to the cis. These findings suggest a great potential of the LC azopolymers as selective sensors or separation membranes for alkali metal ions. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 1713–1723     

High performance benzoxazine monomers and polymers containing furan groups

Furan‐containing benzoxazine monomers, 3‐furfuryl‐3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐1,3‐benzoxazine (P‐FBz) and bis(3‐furfuryl‐3,4‐dihydro‐2H‐1,3‐benzoxazinyl)isopropane (BPA‐FBz), were prepared using furfurylamine as a raw material. The chemical structures of P‐FBz and BPA‐FBz were characterized with FTIR, ¹H NMR, elemental analysis, and mass spectrometry. Formation of furfurylamine Mannich bridge networks in the polymerizations of P‐FBz and BPA‐FBz increased the cross‐linking densities and thermal stability of the resulting polybenzoxazines. P‐FBz‐ and BPA‐FBz‐based polymers also exhibited high glass transition temperatures above 300 °C, high char yields, and low flammability with limited oxygen index values of 31. The dielectric (D_k = 3.21–3.39) and mechanical properties (high storage modulus of 3.0–3.9 GPa and low coefficient of thermal expansion of 37.7–45.4 ppm) of the P‐FBz‐ and BPA‐FBz‐based polymers were superior or comparable to other polybenzoxazines. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 5267–5282, 2005     

Energy transfer from fluorene‐based conjugated polyelectrolytes to on‐chain and self‐assembled porphyrin units

A new water soluble fluorene‐based polyelectrolyte containing on‐chain porphyrin units has been synthesized via Suzuki coupling, for use in optoelectronic devices. The material consist of a random copolymer of poly{1,4‐phenylene‐[9,9‐bis(4‐phenoxy butylsulfonate)]fluorene‐2,7‐diyl} (PBS‐PFP) and a 5,15‐diphenylporphyrin (DPP). The energy transfer process between the PBS‐PFP units and the porphyrin has been investigated through steady state and time‐resolved measurements. The copolymer PBS‐PFP‐DPP displays two different emissions one located in the blue region of the spectra, corresponding to the fluorene part and another in the red due to fluorescent DPP units either formed directly or by exciton transfer. However, relatively inefficient energy transfer from the PFP to the on‐chain porphyrin units was observed. We compare this with a system involving an anionic blue light‐emitting donor PBS‐PFP and a anionic red light‐emitting energy acceptor meso‐tetrakisphenylporphyrinsulfonate (TPPS), self‐assembled by electrostatic attraction induced by Ca²⁺. Based on previous studies related to chain aggregation of the anionic copolymer PBS‐PFP, two different solvent media were chosen to further explore the possibilities of the self‐assembled system: dioxane–water and aqueous nonionic surfactant n‐dodecylpentaoxyethylene glycol ether (C₁₂E₅). In contrast, with the on‐chain PBS‐PFP‐DPP system the strong overlap of the 0‐0 emission peak of the PBS‐PFP and the Soret absorption band of the TPPS results in an efficient Förster transfer. This is strongly dependent on the solvent medium used. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Preparation and characterization of redox cellulose Langmuir–Blodgett films containing a ferrocene derivative

The 3‐ferrocenoylpropanoyl group, one of the redox species, was introduced at C‐2 and/or C‐3 positions of 6‐O‐(4‐stearyloxytrityl)cellulose. The spreading behavior of the cellulose derivatives on the water surface and the properties of Langmuir–Blodgett (LB) films were investigated. The surface pressure–area isotherm of the cellulose monolayer was changed by the subphase temperature. Uniform monolayers of 6‐O‐(4‐stearyloxytrityl)cellulose 3‐ferrocene propionate (STCFc) could be deposited successively onto several substrates by the horizontal lifting method at 10 mN m^?1, and this produced X‐type LB films. The successive uniform depositions of STCFc were confirmed by ultraviolet–visible absorption spectra. X‐ray diffraction measurements indicated that the thickness of the STCFc molecules in the LB films was 1.99 nm. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy measurements supported the idea that hydrocarbon chains in the LB films were highly ordered (trans‐zigzag) and oriented considerably perpendicular to the surface of the substrate. Moreover, the C?O group of the ferrocenoyl groups was perpendicular to the surface of the substrate, and the ferrocene group was occupied in the water phase. Cyclic voltammograms for the STCFc monolayer on a gold electrode exhibited surface waves. The interfacial electron‐transfer process between the redox site incorporated into the cellulose LB monolayer and the electrode surface was fast enough at a scanning rate lower than 100 mV s^?1. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 5023–5031, 2005