Rationalizing the self‐assembly of poly‐(3‐hexylthiophene) using solubility and solvatochromic parameters

The assembly of poly(3‐hextylthiophene) (P3HT) in solvent mixtures is studied using solubility and solvatochromic parameters. Correlations between the excitonic coupling of P3HT assemblies and the Kamlet–Taft (α, β, π*) and solvent scales reveal that lower excitonic coupling values are observed in binary mixtures characterized by low β values (0 < β ≤ 0.25) and low polarity (0.1 ≤ ≤ 0.3). Hansen solubility theory is revisited by evaluating the directionality of the solubility distance, R_a. Relationships between the excitonic coupling and the Δδ_h and Δδ_p vector components indicate that the polarity of the solvent (Δδ_p) and the specific solvent‐solvent interactions reflected by the Δδ_h component direct the formation of well‐ordered P3HT aggregates. The complementary results of the solubility and solvatochromic parameter analyses are in agreement with one another. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015 , 53, 841–850     

Decreased domain size and improved crystallinity by adjusting solvent–polymer interaction parameters in all‐polymer solar cells

We have investigated the effect of solvent–polymer interaction on the morphology, crystallinity, and device performance of poly‐(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and poly{2,7‐(9,9‐didodecyl‐fluorene)‐alt‐5,5‐[4′,7′‐bis(2‐thienyl)‐2′,1′,3′‐benzothia‐diaole]} (PF12TBT) blend system. 3‐Hexylthiophene (3‐HT), which had the similar structural units with both donor and acceptor materials, was chosen as the solvent additive to be added into the main solvent chlorobenzene (CB), to adjust the solvent–polymer interaction. With the 3‐HT percentage increasing from 5 to 30% in CB solution, the solvent–polymer interaction between polymer and solvent molecules decreased slightly according to the calculated solubility parameters (δ) and interaction parameters (χ₁₂). As a result, nanoscale phase‐separated and interconnected morphology with decreased domain size of both donor and acceptor was formed. Meanwhile, the order of P3HT molecule was enhanced which resulted from the extended film drying time and increased molecular planarity after incorporation of 3‐HT. The power conversion efficiency (PCE) had a gradual improvement to 1.08% as the 3‐HT percentage reached 10%, which can be attributed to the enhanced short‐circuit current (J_sc) and fill factor (FF). However, when the 3‐HT percentage exceeded 20%, the decreased J_sc and FF ultimately decreased the PCE. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015 , 53, 288–296     

Poly(3‐hexylthiophene) aggregate formation in binary solvent mixtures: An excitonic coupling analysis

The aggregation behavior of P3HT [M_n ≈ 28.2 kDa, regioregularity >96%, PDI ≈ 1.3] in 96 solvent mixtures is studied using UV–vis absorption spectroscopy. Hansen solubility parameters and Spano excitonic coupling analyses are used to identify correlations between the properties of the solvent mixtures and the extent of structural order of the aggregates. It is clear that the identity of the poor solvent used to drive aggregation has a significant impact on the excitonic coupling behavior and, hence, the structural order of the P3HT aggregates. However, solubility parameter theory does not account nor provide a predictive theory for the observed trends. Instead, qualitative arguments based on the nature of the interactions between the solvents and the polythiophene and hexyl side chain motifs are used to rationalize the kinetics of formation and the observed excitonic coupling characteristics of the P3HT aggregates. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2014 , 52, 526–538     

Temperature dependence of the convex solubility parameters of organic semiconductors

Solubility parameter methods have also proven very useful in an array of theoretical and practical applications, particularly regarding the mutual solubility of polymers and organic semiconductors in bulk‐heterojunction composites. The temperature dependence of the solubility and miscibility of organic semiconductors offers a promising route for directing the organization of materials and composites toward optimal morphologies. Here, the convex solubility parameter (CSP) approach is used to investigate the temperature dependence of three organic semiconductors: PCBM, P3HT, and PCPDTBT. The CSPs and mutual solubility regions are computed at several temperatures between 25 °C and 140 °C, and the results are compared to those obtained from a traditional spherical‐fitting algorithm. In addition, the impact that constant and varying thermal expansion coefficients have on the computed solubility parameters across this temperature range is investigated. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 81–88     

Poly(3‐hexylthiophene) aggregation at solvent–solvent interfaces

The aggregation behavior of P3HT is investigated at the interface of orthogonal solvents for P3HT. The changeable characteristics of P3HT aggregate dispersions, for example, extent of aggregation and intrachain order, are studied by varying (1) the interfacial area, (2) the poor solvent used to induce aggregation – dichloromethane (DCM), hexane (HEX), and acetonitrile (AcN) – and (3) the relative composition of the good solvent, chloroform (CF), and poor solvents. The results are compared to those observed using rapid injection of the solvent. Miscibility gap values (Δδ) provide a reasonable justification of the assembly behavior of P3HT in the solvent mixtures in terms of the kinetics of polymer aggregation and the kinetics of solvent mixing at the interface. Atomic force microscopy (AFM) is used to analyze the morphology of films processed from dispersions with disparate characteristics, but having the same solvent composition, for example, 70:30 CF:HEX or 60:40 CF:DCM. Based on the disparity of the kinetics and miscibility gap values, the prevalence of specific structural motifs in the films, for example, spheroids (globules) and fibers, is effectively rationalized in terms of the structural attributes of the aggregates in the liquid phase rather than the evaporation rate (boiling point) differences of the solvents in the mixture. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2018 , 56, 999–1011     

Random poly(3‐hexylthiophene‐co‐3‐cyanothiophene‐co‐3‐(2‐ethylhexyl)thiophene) copolymers with high open‐circuit voltage in polymer solar cells

For the purpose of developing poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) based copolymers with deep‐lying highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) levels for polymer solar cells with high open‐circuit voltage (V_oc), we report a combined approach of random incorporation of 3‐cyanothiophene (CNT) and 3‐(2‐ethylhexyl)thiophene (EHT) units into the P3HT backbone. This strategy is designed to overcome CNT content limitations in recently reported P3HT‐CNT copolymers, where incorporation of more than 15% of CNT into the polymer backbone leads to impaired polymer solubility and raises the HOMO level. This new approach allows incorporation of a larger CNT content, reaching even lower‐lying HOMO levels. Importantly, a very low HOMO level of ?5.78 eV was obtained, representing one of the lowest HOMO values for exclusively thiophene‐based polymers. Lower HOMO levels result in higher V_oc and higher power conversion efficiencies (PCE) compared to the previously reported P3HT‐CNT copolymers containing only 3‐hexylthiophene and CNT units. As a result, solar cells based on P3HT‐CNT‐EHT(15:15) , which contains 70% of P3HT, 15% of CNT and 15% of EHT, yield a V_oc of 0.83 V in blends with PC₆₁BM while preserving high fill factor (FF) and high short‐circuit current density (J_sc), resulting in 3.6% PCE. Additionally, we explored the effect of polymer number‐average molecular weight (M_n) on the optoelectronic properties and solar cell performance for the example of P3HT‐CNT‐EHT(15:15). The organic photovoltaic (OPV) performance improves with polymer M_n increasing from 3.4 to 6.7 to 9.6 kDa and then it declines as M_n further increases to 9.9 and to 16.2 kDa. The molecular weight study highlights the importance of not only the solar cell optimization, but also the significance of individual polymer properties optimization, in order to fully explore the potential of any given polymer in OPVs. The broader ramification of this study lies in potential application of these high band gap copolymers with low‐lying HOMO level in the development of ternary blend photovoltaics as well as tandem OPV. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 1526–1536     

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     

High solubility,low‐dielectric constant,and optical transparency of novel polyimides derived from 3,3′,5,5′‐tetramethyl‐4,4′‐diaminodiphenyl‐4″‐isopropyltoluene

A series of novel polyimides (PIs) ( 3a–d ) were prepared from 3,3′,5,5′‐tetramethyl‐4,4′‐diaminodiphenyl‐4 ″ ‐isopropyltoluene ( 1 ) with four aromatic dianhydrides via a one‐step high temperature polycondensation procedure. The obtained PIs showed excellent solubility, with most of them dissoluble at a concentration of 10 wt % in amide polar solvents and chlorinated solvents. Their films were nearly colorless and exhibited high‐optical transparency, with the UV cutoff wavelength in the range of 328–353 nm and the transparency at 450 nm >80%. They also showed low‐dielectric constant (2.49–2.94 at 1 MHz) and low‐water absorptions (0.44–0.65%). Moreover, these PIs possessed high‐glass transition temperatures (T_g) beyond 327 °C and excellent thermal stability with 10% weight loss temperatures in the range of 530–555 °C in nitrogen atmosphere. In comparison with some fluorinated poly(ether imide)s derived from the trifluoromethyl‐substituted bis(ether amine)s, the resultant PIs 3a–d showed better solubility, lower cutoff wavelength, and higher T_g. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 3309–3317, 2009     

Crystallization‐dominated and microphase separation/crystallization‐coexisted structure of all‐conjugated phenylene–thiophene diblock copolymers

The crystallization‐dominated and microphase separation/crystallization‐coexisted structure of the all‐conjugated diblock copolymers poly(2,5‐dihexyloxy‐p‐phenylene)‐block‐(3‐hexylthiophene) (PPP‐b‐P3HT, denoted as BmTn) with different block compositions was affected by the aggregation state of the diblock copolymers in solvents with different solubilities. For B34T66, B62T38, and B75T25, the coexistence of microphase separation and crystallization was obtained in good solvent with few crystalline aggregates. For B34T66 with a longer P3HT block, densely stacked fiber crystal structures in thin films were found by using marginal solvents with crystalline aggregations in solutions. As for B62T38 and B75T25 with shorter P3HT block and longer PPP block, crystal structures were obtained by the use of solvents with a much larger solubility difference of the two blocks. Thus, microphase‐separated structures are prone to form from solutions with coil conformation and fiber crystals from solutions with larger aggregates, which resulted in the increased crystallinity. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2015 , 53, 1718–1726     

Synthesis and characterization of cyclic P3HT as a donor polymer for organic solar cells

In this study, cyclic poly(3‐hexylthiophene‐2,5‐diyl) (c‐P3HT) with a controlled M_n was synthesized by the intramolecular cyclization of α‐bromo‐ω‐ethynyl‐functionalized P3HT via the Sonogashira coupling reaction. The effect of the cyclic structure, which does not have terminal groups of polymers, on the photoelectric conversion characteristics was investigated in comparison to linear P3HT (l‐P3HT). c‐P3HT was successfully synthesized with M_n ≈ 17,000, dispersity ≈ 1.2, and regioregularity ≈ 99%. The hole mobility was determined to be 5.1 × 10^?4 cm² V^?1 s^?1 by time‐of‐flight (TOF) experiment. This was comparable to that of l‐P3HT of 5.6 × 10^?4 cm² V^?1 s^?1. Organic solar cell systems were fabricated with each polymer by blending them with [6,6]‐phenyl‐C₇₁‐butyric acid methyl ester (PC₇₁BM). The l‐P3HT:PC₇₁BM system showed a dispersive TOF photocurrent profile for electron transport, whereas a nondispersive profile was observed for c‐P3HT:PC₇₁BM. In addition, an amount of collected electrons in c‐P3HT:PC₇₁BM was greater than that in l‐P3HT:PC₇₁BM for TOF experiments. The photoelectric conversion characteristics were improved by using c‐P3HT rather than l‐P3HT (power conversion efficiency [PCE] = 4.05% vs 3.23%), reflecting the nondispersive transport and the improvement of electron collection. PCEs will be much improved by applying this cyclic concept to highly‐efficient OSC polymers. © 2019 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2019 , 57, 266–271     

Poly(3‐hexyl thiophene)‐b‐poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide): Synthesis and its composition dependent structural,solubility, thermoresponsive,electrochemical, and electronic properties

Conjugated block copolymers consisting of poly(3‐hexyl thiophene) (P3HT) and a thermoresponsive polymer poly(N‐isopropyl acrylamide) (PNIPAM) with varying composition have been synthesized by facile click reaction between alkyne terminated P3HT and azide terminated PNIPAM. The composition‐dependent solubility, thermoresponsive property in water, phase behavior, electrochemical, optical, and electronic properties of the block copolymers were systematically investigated. The block copolymers with higher volume fraction of PNIPAM form thermoresponsive spherical micelles with P3HT‐rich crystalline cores and PNIPAM coronas. Both X‐ray and atomic force microscopic studies indicated that the blocks copolymers showed well‐defined microphase separated nanostructures and the structure depended on the composition of the blocks. The electrochemical study of the block copolymers clearly demonstrated that the extent of charge transport through the block copolymer thin film was similar to P3HT homopolymer without any significant change in the band gap. The block copolymers showed improved or similar charge carrier mobility compared with the pure P3HT depending on the composition of the block copolymer. These P3HT‐b‐PNIPAM copolymers were interesting for fabrication of optoelectronic devices capable of thermal and moisture sensing as well as for studying the thermoresponsive colloidal structures of semiconductor amphiphilic systems. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 1785–1794     

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     

Modeling ionomer swelling dynamics of a sulfonated polyphenylene,pentablock copolymers,and nafion

The water swelling behavior of Nafion, sulfonated poly(phenylene) (sPP), and poly[t‐butyl styrene‐b‐hydrogenated isoprene‐b‐sulfonated styrene‐b‐hydrogenated isoprene‐b‐t‐butyl styrene) was studied in order to understand microscopic molecular interactions. Ionomer swelling was modeled using the Flory‐Rehner relationship to predict solvent‐ionomer interaction parameter (χ ₁₂) and effective number of elastically active chains (n ). Water swollen PBC had a decreasing χ₁₂ from 1.146 to 0.516 when its ion‐exchange capacity (IEC) increased from 1.0 to 2.0. Nafion 117 and sPP χ ₁₂ values were 0.93 and 0.807 at an IEC of 0.91 and 1.8. Polymer water uptake was inversely dependent upon n and IEC or sulfonic acid‐group concentration. The following trend was noted for ionomer type, n , and water uptake: PBC‐2.0 (159 wt % and 7.89e‐4 mol/cm³) > sPP (48.6 wt % and 1.40e‐3 mol/cm³) > Nafion 117 (23 wt % and 1.24e‐3 mol/cm³). The ionomer's Gibb's total free change (ΔG_Tot ) due to water swelling for Nafion 117 was ?15.3 J, sPP was ?28.5 J, and PBC‐2.0 was ?53.2 J. An empirical equation was created to estimate a material's total solubility parameter (δ ); and dispersion (δ_d ), dipolar (δ_p ,), and hydrogen bonding (δ_h ) forces. The δ values for Nafion 117, sPP, and PBC‐2.0 were 19.9 (J/cm³)^1/2, 21.3 (J/cm³)^1/2, and 21.0 (J/cm³)^1/2. Idealized swelling within an ionomer due to solvent. Ion domains are comprised of fixed sulfonated acid groups (? SO₃H) along the polymer's backbone. These functional groups provide interaction sites for molecules to diffusion and swell chains. The total change in free energy ΔG is dominated by ΔG_mix that is attributed to hydrogen bonding and the concentration of elastically active chains n , which directly impacts its chemical potential Δμ . © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2017 , 55 , 435–443     

Morphology control of poly(3‐hexylthiophene)‐b‐poly(ethylene oxide) block copolymer by solvent blending

The use of mixed solvents provided an effective way to control the self‐assembly behavior and photophysical properties of a conjugated rod–coil block copolymer, poly(3‐hexylthiophene)‐b‐poly(ethylene oxide) (P3HT‐b‐PEO). It was shown that the balance between the π–π stacking of the P3HT and microphase separation of the copolymer could be dynamically controlled and shifted by solvent blending. Depending on the mixed solvent ratio (i.e., chloroform/methanol, anisole/chloroform, or anisole/methanol), the copolymer chains experienced different kinetic pathways, yielding a series of nanostructures such as disordered wormlike pattern, densely packed nanofibrils, and isolated nanofibrils. With the varying solvent selectivity, the P3HT‐b‐PEO chains displayed a hybrid photophysical property depending on the competition between intrachain and interchain excitonic coupling, resulting in the transformation between J‐ and H‐aggregation. Overall, this work offered an effective way to demonstrate the correlation and transformation between π–π stacking of P3HT and microphase separation, and how the conformation of P3HT chains influenced the photophysical properties of the copolymer during solvent blending. © 2015 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2016 , 54, 544–551     

Facile synthesis for well‐defined A2B miktoarm star copolymer of poly(3‐hexylthiophene) and poly(methyl methacrylate) by the combination of anionic polymerization and click reaction

We have introduced a facile synthetic route for well‐defined A₂B miktoarm star copolymer composed of regioregular poly(3‐hexylthiophene) and poly(methyl methacrylate) ((P3HT)₂PMMA) by the combination of anionic polymerization and click reaction. First, we synthesized PMMA terminated with 1,3,5‐tris(bromomethyl)benzene (PMMA‐(Br)₂) by anionic polymerization, and two bromines attached to the end of the PMMA chains were replaced by azides (PMMA‐(N₃)₂). Also, monoethynyl‐capped P3HT was synthesized by Grignard metathesis polymerization and post‐end functionalization. Then, copper(I)‐catalyzed Huisgen 1,3‐dipolar cycloaddition click reaction between monoethynyl‐capped P3HT and PMMA‐(N₃)₂ was performed to synthesize (P3HT)₂PMMA. We used a slightly excess amount of monoethynyl‐capped P3HT so that all of the azide groups at the end of the PMMA chains completely reacted with monoethynyl‐capped P3HT. After complete removal of unreacted monoethynyl‐capped P3HT by column chromatography, pure (P3HT)₂PMMA with narrow molecular weight distribution (the polydispersity of 1.18) was obtained. The weight fraction of P3HT and the total molecular weight of (P3HT)₂PMMA are 0.48 and 16,000, respectively. To investigate the effect of the chain architecture on optical property and thin‐film morphology, we synthesized two linear P3HT‐b‐PMMAs (P3HT‐b‐PMMA‐L and P3HT‐b‐PMMA‐H) with similar weight fraction of P3HT block (0.48 for P3HT‐b‐PMMA‐L and 0.45 for P3HT‐b‐PMMA‐H) but two different total molecular weights (7900 for P3HT‐b‐PMMA‐L and 15,300 for P3HT‐b‐PMMA‐H). UV–visible (UV–vis) absorption spectrum and the fibril width of (P3HT)2PMMA thin film were similar to those of P3HT‐b‐PMMA‐L thin film. However, UV–vis spectrum for P3HT‐b‐PMMA‐H thin film was red‐shifted and the fibril width of P3HT‐b‐PMMA‐H was much larger than that of (P3HT)₂PMMA. This indicates that the π–π interaction between P3HT arms in (P3HT)₂PMMA is strong enough to arrange two P3HT backbone chains in (P3HT)₂PMMA to stack one by one along the nanofibril axis. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Preparation of aromatic polyimides highly soluble in conventional solvents

Several highly soluble polyimides were synthesized from various aromatic tetracarboxylic dianhydrides and an aromatic diamine containing tert‐butyl pendent groups [4,4′‐methylenebis(2‐tert‐butylaniline)]. All the polyimides showed excellent solubility in common solvents such as chloroform, tetrahydrofuran, and dioxane at room temperature. The number‐average molecular weight ranged from 3.6 × 10⁴ to 1.3 × 10⁵ according to gel permeation chromatography relative to a polystyrene standard, and the polydispersity index was between 1.9 and 2.5. The glass‐transition temperatures of the resulting polyimides ranged from 213 to 325 °C, as measured by differential scanning calorimetry, and little weight loss was observed up to 450 °C in N₂ by thermogravimetric analysis. These experimental data indicated that the tert‐butyl pendent groups reduced the interactions among polymer chains to improve their solubility in organic solvents without the loss of thermal stability. Transparent and flexible films of these polyimides were obtained via casting from solution. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 229–234, 2002     

Fluorine‐containing vinyl ether polymers: Living cationic polymerization in fluorinated solvents as new media and unique solubility characteristics in organic solvents

Living cationic polymerization of fluorine‐containing vinyl ethers [CH₂?CH? O? C₂H₄? O? C₃H₆? C_nF_2n+1: 5FVE (n = 2), 13FVE (n = 6)] was investigated in various solvents with a CH₃CH(OiBu)OCOCH₃/Et_1.5AlCl_1.5 initiating system in the presence of an added base. 5FVE was polymerized quantitatively in toluene at 0 °C, and the obtained polymers had predetermined molecular weights with narrow molecular weight distributions (M_w/M_n < 1.1). On the other hand, for the polymerization of 13FVE, the product polymers precipitated due to their extremely poor solubility in nonfluorinated organic solvents. Therefore, fluorinated solvents such as hydrochlorofluorocarbons, hydrofluorocarbons, hydrofluoroethers, or α,α,α‐trifluorotoluene, as‐yet uninvestigated for cationic polymerization, were employed. In these solvents, living polymerization was achieved even with 13FVE, yielding well‐defined polymers (M_w/M_n < 1.1, by size exclusion chromatography using a fluorinated solvent as an eluent). The solvents were also shown to be good for living polymerization of isobutyl vinyl ether. The obtained fluorine‐containing polymers underwent temperature‐responsive solubility transitions in organic solvents. Poly(5FVE) showed sensitive upper critical solution temperature (UCST)‐type phase separation behavior in toluene. Copolymers of 13FVE and isobutyl vinyl ether showed UCST‐type phase separation in common organic solvents with different polarities depending on their composition, while a homopolymer of 13FVE was insoluble in all nonfluorinated organic solvents. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Structural transitions of nanocrystalline domains in regioregular poly(3‐hexyl thiophene) thin films

The effects of solution processing and thermal annealing on thin film morphology and crystalline structures of regioregular poly(3‐hexyl thiophene) (RR P3HT) are studied in terms of molecular weight (M_w). Using grazing‐incidence X‐ray diffraction, π‐conjugated planes in drop‐cast films from chloroform solutions are found to be preferentially oriented parallel to the substrates regardless of M_w. However, the mesoscale nanocrystalline morphology of the drop‐cast films is significantly affected by M_w, exhibiting a distinctive morphological transition from short nanorods to long nanofibrils above a critical number‐averaged M_w (～ 3.6 kDa). This is probably due to the change in a conformation change from an extended‐chain to a folded‐chain, as M_w of RR P3HT increases. In contrast, spin‐casting of high M_w RR P3HT produces less ordered films with a lower crystallinity and mixed parallel/perpendicular orientations of π‐conjugated planes. The crystallinity and parallel π‐conjugated orientation of RR P3HT in spin‐cast films could be improved by thermal treatments at high‐temperatures either (1) above the glass transition temperature or (2) above the melting temperature of RR 3PHT followed by recrystallization upon cooling under vacuum. However, the charge mobility of the spin‐cast films for a field‐effect transistor application is still lower than that of the drop‐cast films. This would be attributed to the chain oxidation and the development of distinct grain boundaries between RR P3HT nanofibrils during the thermal treatments. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 1303–1312, 2007     

Synthesis of all‐conjugated poly(3‐hexylthiophene)‐block‐ poly(3‐(4′‐(3″,7″‐dimethyloctyloxy)‐3′‐pyridinyl)thiophene) and its blend for photovoltaic applications

New all‐conjugated block copolythiophene, poly(3‐hexylthiophene)‐block‐poly(3‐(4′‐(3″,7″‐dimethyloctyloxy)‐3′‐pyridinyl)thiophene) (P3HT‐b‐P3PyT) was successfully prepared by Grignard metathesis polymerization. The supramolecular interaction between [6,6]‐phenyl‐C₆₁‐butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) and P3PyT was proposed to control the aggregated size of PCBM and long‐term thermal stability of the photovoltaic cell, as evidenced by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and optical microscopy. The effect of different solvents on the electronic and optoelectronic properties was studied, including chloroform (CL), dichlorobenzene (DCB), and mixed solvent of CL/DCB. The optimized bulk heterojunction solar cell devices using the P3HT‐b‐P3PyT/PCBM blend showed a power conversion efficiency of 2.12%, comparable to that of P3HT/PCBM device despite the fact that former had a lower crystallinity or absorption coefficient. Furthermore, P3HT‐b‐P3PyT could be also used as a surfactant to enhance the long‐term thermal stability of P3HT/PCBM‐based solar cells by limiting the aggregated size of PCBM. This study represents a new supramolecular approach to design all‐conjugated block copolymers for high‐performance photovoltaic devices. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011.     

One‐pot synthesis of conjugated poly(3‐hexylthiophene)‐b‐poly(phenyl isocyanide) hybrid rod–rod block copolymers and its self‐assembling properties

In this article, the synthesis of a series of conjugated rod–rod block copolymers based on poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) and poly(phenyl isocyanide) (PPI) building blocks in a single pot is presented. Ni‐catalyzed Grignard metathesis polymerization of 2,5‐dibromo‐3‐hexylthiophene and subsequent addition of 4‐isocyanobenzoyl‐2‐aminoisobutyric acid decyl ester in the presence of Ni(dppp)Cl₂ as a single catalyst afford P3HT‐b‐PPI with tunable molecular weights and compositions. In solid state, microphase separation occurred as differential scanning calorimetric analysis of P3HT‐b‐PPI revealed two glass transition temperatures. In solutions, the copolymers can self‐assemble into spherical aggregates with P3HT core and PPI shell in tetrahydrofuran and exhibit amorphous state in CHCl₃. However, atomic force microscopy revealed that the block copolymers self‐assemble into nanofibrils on the substrate. These unique features warrant the resultant conjugated rod–rod copolymers' potential study in organic photovoltaic and other electronic devices. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013, 51, 2939–2947