New polythiophenes bearing electron-acceptor phthalocyanine chromophores

Two new donor-acceptor copolymers comprising a polythiophene backbone, and bearing phthalocyanine chromophores on the side chains have been prepared. Preliminary photophysical characterization of these materials by FTIR photoinduced absorption indicates that electron transfer from the polythiophene to the phthalocyanine units takes place.     

New conducting polythiophenes containing substituted polyfluorinated alkoxy chain

A series of poly(fluoroalkoxy thiophenes) have been prepared by electrochemical and chemical polymerization respectively. The substitution of thiophene by polyfluorinated alkoxy chains affords more favorable structures in electronic effect and higher stabilities of their polymers than conventional alkoxy chain substituted polymers.     

New photosetting NLO-active polythiophenes with enhanced optical stability

A new molecular design strategy devoted to the obtainment of polythiophenes showing a second-order NLO response that is stable in time is reported and commented on. The adopted synthetic procedure, based on the functionalization of soluble and stable polymeric precursors, leads to a photocrosslinkable polymer which, after curing, shows a decay of the order parameter ? notably slower than in previously synthesized NLO-active polymers containing the same kind of chromophore. The curing conditions have been carefully monitored and optimized, since they not only influence the chain mobility, but also strongly affect the electronic delocalization of the polyconjugated backbone. Detrimental effects can, however, be avoided by using suitable functional groups in the side chains, acting as internal plasticizers without being sensitizers for the photobleaching process.     

Metal-containing conjugated oligo- and polythiophenes

Conjugated polymers containing metal groups are an important class of new materials that may find application as sensors, non-linear optical materials and in molecular electronics. Polythiophenes are an extensively studied class of conjugated polymers, that can be easily modified synthetically, and may be prepared using a variety of methods. Metal groups pendant to polythiophene backbones modulate the electronic, optical and redox properties of the conjugated backbone and can introduce novel structural motifs to these materials. Functionalization of oligo- and polythiophenes by Fe, Pd and Ru containing groups is discussed, along with the properties of some of these materials.     

Functional polythiophenes as optical chemo- and biosensors

Synthesis of fluorescent, chromic and postfunctionalizable poly[3-(N-succinimido(tetraethoxy)oxy)-4-methylthiophene] is described. This polymer bears succinimidyl carbamate side-chains which are able to react with amine groups, affording new smart polythiophene derivatives. Detection of different analytes (affinitychromism) was realized by UV-Visible and fluorescence means. In order to develop biosensors, water-soluble cationic thiophene-based homopolymers and random copolymers were also investigated.     

A versatile approach to affinitychromic polythiophenes

The preparation of both postfunctionalizable and chromic poly[3-(N-succinimido-p-phenylcarboxylate(tetraethoxy)oxy)-4-methylthiophene] is reported. The N-hydroxysuccinimide ester side group can easily react with different amine-bearing molecules in the solid state to yield a library of new polythiophene derivatives. The resulting polymers can be dissolved in various solvents, and interactions between the side chains (ligands) and different analytes (targets) can be detected from modifications of both the side-chain and the backbone conformations resulting in important color changes (i.e., affinitychromism). This colorimetric polymeric transducer could therefore lead to highly valuable, versatile, and inexpensive tools for highthroughput screening and drug discovery.     

Role of polythiophenes as electroactive materials

Semiconducting polythiophenes display electroactive properties which make them excellent candidates for applications as electroactive materials. Ability to undergo doping and to switch between different oxidation states allow tuning the chemical and physical properties of polythiophenes. Furthermore, the ability to integrate polythiophenes into copolymers, hybrid composites with metals and inorganic materials make them useful in electronic and biomedical applications. The capability to vary the properties of the final material with low production cost and high processability into thin films makes polythiophenes desirable materials for many applications. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2017 , 55, 3327–3346     

Oriented thin films from soluble polythiophenes

The degree of orientation of thin films of eight different polymeric structures, belonging to the class of soluble polyalkylthiophenes (PATs) has been studied. Thin films of the polymers, obtained by spin coating onto glass substrates, were oriented by means of the rubbing technique. The degree of orientation is related to the regioregularity of the system: highly regioregular polymers can be oriented, while regiorandom materials are not oriented. The degree of orientation can be improved by thermal annealing of the oriented films. As a result of annealing, which was performed at different temperatures according to the thermal behavior of the polymers, it was possible to increase the polarization ratio for poly(3-decylthiophene) up to 12–13 as detected from the UV-vis spectra in polarized light. Moreover in the investigated PATs, both the key role of molecular weight and its distribution for achieving a high orientation degree has been assessed. Copyright © 2003 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Synthesis of azobenzene‐containing polythiophenes and photoinduced anisotropy

Three new polythiophenes containing an azobenzene moiety in the side‐chain were synthesized and characterized. Two of them, which are slightly soluble in tetrahydrofuran to allow the preparation of thin films from solution casting, were used to investigate the photoinduced anisotropy arising from the photoisomerization of azobenzene in this type of polymer. The results show that, unlike other amorphous azobenzene polymers, only an extremely small anisotropy can be induced on excitation with an Ar⁺ laser at 488 nm in these azobenzene‐containing polythiophenes, and that this photoinduced anisotropy is observable only by heating the polymer to some temperatures below glass transition temperature. It is suggested that the inability for azobenzene polythiophenes to display a significant photoinduced anisotropy may be caused by some structural constraints and/or a severe interference from conjugated thiophene chains that absorb strongly in the visible region. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3445–3455, 2004     

Unusual chromic and doping behavior of ether substituted polythiophenes

Poly[3-(oligoethylene oxide)-4-methylthiophene] is doped by HCl in aqueous solution in the absence of oxygen and undergoes dramatic solvatochromism in water-ethanol mixtures.     

High-performance semiconducting polythiophenes for organic thin-film transistors

Conjugated polymers have been widely studied as potential semiconductor materials for organic thin-film transistors (TFTs). However, they have provided functionally poor transistor properties when the TFTs are fabricated in air. We have developed a class of liquid crystalline regioregular polythiophenes, PQTs, that possess sufficient air stability to enable achievement of excellent TFT properties under ambient conditions. These polythiophenes exhibit unique self-assembly ability and form highly structured thin films when deposited from solution under appropriate conditions. TFTs fabricated in air with PQT channel layers have provided high field-effect mobility to 0.14 cm2 V-1 s-1 and high current modulation to over 107, together with other desirable transistor properties. These high-performance polythiophenes will therefore help bring the long-standing concept of low-cost organic/polymer transistor circuits closer to commercial reality.     

Correlations between structure and far-infrared active modes in polythiophenes

We have investigated the experimental X-ray and far-infrared responses of three polythiophenes synthesized from a thiophene, alpha-bithiophene, and alpha-quaterthiophene monomer. The X-ray data show that the crystallinity of the different polythiophene samples depends on the synthesis conditions. An excellent correlation between the crystallinity of polythiophenes and their far-infrared signatures is demonstrated. In addition, the assignment of the far-infrared phonon modes in polythiophenes is given by using both an experimental filiation procedure and first-principles calculations. In particular, the ring libration inside the polymeric chain, directly involved in the electron-phonon coupling, is assigned.     

Water- and ionic-liquid-soluble branched polythiophenes bearing anionic and cationic moieties

The synthesis of ionically functionalized branched polythiophenes with either carboxylic acid (anionic, P3T-COOH) or methylimidazolium (cationic, P3T-MIM) end groups is presented. Due to the large number of end groups present in the polymer, the functionalization has a major impact on the solubility of the polymers. In the case of P3T-COOH, the polymer shows a fully reversible phase transfer between organic solvents and water, depending on the pH. Remarkably, the ionic-liquid-modified polymer P3T-MIM is soluble in a room-temperature ionic liquid. The absorption properties are unaffected by the functional end groups.     

Photohole screening effects in polythiophenes with pendant groups

We compare two mechanisms that dominate the temperature-dependent changes in electronic structure for poly(3-hexylthiophene-2,5 diyl) (P3HT). Structural changes in the relative orientation and configuration of the aromatic ring backbone are observed to occur over a wide range in temperature and affect the local final state screening in photoemission. There are also changes in conductivity and carrier concentration at lower temperatures leading to altered long-range intramolecular screening of photoholes and final state effects that affect excitation spectroscopies including photoemission. For polyethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT), temperature-dependent changes in the structure and configuration of the polymer backbone are not as significant, although temperature-dependent final state effects are observed.     

Conducting polythiophenes with a broad spectrum of reactive groups

The development of reliable and reproducible chemistries for the immobilization of biomolecules to a conducting polymer is a key challenge in the design and preparation of a CP‐based biosensor. In this article, the syntheses and electropolymerization of a series of new 3‐alkylthiophene derivatives functionalized with the most used reactive groups in immobilization chemistry, including maleimide, azide, and anhydride, are described. Despite the nucleophilic or electrophilic nature of the reactive groups, the synthesized thiophene monomers exhibit rather good polymerizability, and the reactive groups withstand the polymerization conditions and are correctly incorporated into the resulting electroactive polymers. The reactivity of the pendant reactive groups of the resulting polymers to attach biomolecules has been examined with different redox‐active, photoactive compounds as well as recognition elements as model compounds. It has been confirmed that with well‐established procedures developed for the immobilization of enzymes, the model compounds can be easily and selectively bound onto these new conducting polymers without the loss of their optical and electrochemical activity. Therefore, these conductive materials with a broad spectrum of reactive groups will provide a useful platform for developing CP‐based biosensors for a wide range of applications. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 4547–4558, 2005     

Photo-physical and electro-optical properties of polythiophenes bearing tetrahydropyran side groups

Photo-physical and electro-optical properties of regio-regular polythiophenes functionalized with tetrahydropyran (THP) moieties tethered to the main chain by alkyl spacers are reported. Three sets of polymers were characterized. One consisted of polythiophenes in which THP groups were attached by either ethyl or undecyl side chains. The former exhibited solid state quantum yield of photoluminescence (Φ_pl) of 12%, while the undecyl analog exhibited a value of only 2.7%. Non-optimized polymer LEDs displayed orange and red emission for the ethyl and undecyl analogs, respectively. A second series of polymers investigated was based on random copolymers of 3-(2-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)ethyl)thiophene) and 3-hexyl, dodecyl or hexadecyl-thiophene. Polymers possessing shorter alkyl chains possessed shorter solid-state absorption and emission wavelengths but greater quantum yields of luminescence. The third series was based on random copolymers 3-(2-(2-tetrahydropyranyloxy)ethyl)thiophene) with various amounts of 3-hexylthiophene. As the 3-hexylthiophene content was reduced, the solid-state absorption and emission wavelengths decreased, while quantum yields of luminescence increased. Differences in luminescent properties are explained on the basis of extent of interchain aggregation induced by π–π intermolecular interactions and/or local ordering/disordering of alkyl chains.     

Synthesis, characterization and biocompatibility studies of oligosiloxane modified polythiophenes

This paper describes the preparation and characterization of homopolymers of 3-oligo(dimethylsiloxane)thiophene macromonomers, V-VIII, and copolymers with 3-methylthiophene. The thiophene macromonomers were prepared by hydrosilylation reaction between ω-(Si-H)-oligo(dimethylsiloxane), I-IV, and 3-propenylthiophene using a platinum-divinyltetramethyldisiloxane complex as the catalyst. The products were characterized by ¹H, ¹³C, ²⁹Si NMR and IR spectroscopy; DSC (differential scanning calorimetry) and GPC studies. Two distinct glass transition temperatures are observed for poly[VIII], a T_g at −79 °C corresponds to the soft oligo(dimethylsiloxane) phase and the T_g at 190 °C corresponds to the hard thiophene backbone. Homopolymers of V and VI, and copolymers may be doped with I₂ to generate electronic conductive material, a copolymer of poly[V]-co-poly[3-methylthiophene] (50/50, w/w) has an electronic conductivity value of 5 × 10⁻⁵ S/cm at 25 °C. The polymers are tractable and may be molded into thin films; a number of the polymers are soluble in organic solvents. Polythiophene modified with oligosilioxanes are biocompatibile; the polymers minimally interfere with the growth of HeLa cells.     

Structure of self-assembled multilayers prepared from water-soluble polythiophenes

We have studied the structure and morphology of self-assembled polyelectrolyte multilayers prepared using poly(styrenesulfonate) (PSS) and four different cationic poly(alkoxythiophene) derivatives bearing methylimidazolium-terminated ionic side chain at the 3-position of the thiophene ring: poly(1-methyl-3-[3-[3-thienyloxy]-propyl]-1H-imidazolium) (P3TOPIM), poly(1-methyl-3-[6-[3-thienyloxy]-hexyl]-1H-imidazolium) (P3TOHIM), poly(1-methyl-3-[2-[(4-methyl-3-thienyl)oxy]-ethyl]-1H-imidazolium ) (P4Me-3TOEIM), and poly(1-methyl-3-[6-[(4-methyl-3-thienyl)oxy]-hexyl]-1H-imidazolium ) (P4Me-3TOHIM). All the multilayers exhibited regular growth. The thickness of the multilayers was measured with ellipsometry, their layer-by-layer growth was followed by polarization modulation infrared reflection-absorption spectroscopy (PM-IRRAS) and ellipsometry, and the morphology of the films was studied by atomic force microscopy (AFM). The length of the methylimidazolium-terminated side chain (C(n), n = 2, 3, 6) and the substituent (H or Me) at the 4-position of the thiophene ring were varied. All multilayers were inhomogeneous in the sub-micrometer scale and contained aggregates of two kinds. The large ones with a low and constant surface number density were attributed to PSS, whereas the small aggregates were polythiophene-based. The surface density of these organic semiconducting nanoparticles greatly depended on the structure of polythiophene, being favored by polymer regioregularity and the length of the side chain. The side chains remained disordered in all the multilayers, but with polythiophenes having hexyl chains both the imidazolium and thiophene rings tended to orient themselves more perpendicular to the surface than in films containing shorter chains (C2 or C3). The relative water content of the multilayers (at 7.1% relative humidity) did not depend on the film thickness and was the lowest for P4Me-3TOHIM. As the number of bilayers increased the methylimidazolium-sulfonate ion pairs gradually weakened and became more individually hydrated.