Comparative study of the optical,electrochemical, electrolumiscent,and photovoltaic properties of dendritic pendants modified poly(p‐phenylene vinylene)s

In this study, the optical, electrochemical, electrolumiscent, and photovoltaic properties of a series of poly(p‐phenylene vinylene) (PPV) derivatives bearing different dendritic pendants, poly{2‐[3′,5′‐bis(2″‐ethylhexyloxy)benzyloxy]‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene} (BE‐PPV), poly{2‐[2′,5′‐bis(3″,7″‐dimethyl)octyloxy]‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene} (BD‐PPV), poly[2‐methoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene] (MEH‐PPV), poly{2‐[3′,5′‐bis(2″‐ethylhexyloxy)benzyloxy]‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene}‐co‐poly[2‐methoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene] (BE‐co‐MEH‐PPV), and poly{2‐[2′,5′‐bis(3″,7″‐dimethyl)octyloxy]‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene}‐co‐poly[2‐methoxy‐5‐(3′,7′‐dimethyloctyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene] (BD‐co‐MDMO‐PPV), were investigated. The steric pendants strongly affect the absorption spectra, photoluminescence (PL) sepctra, the onset oxidation/reduction potentials, and further affect the electrolumiscent and photovoltaic properties. Copolymerization can reduce the steric effect and improve the electrolumiscent and photovoltaic properties. The brightness of light‐emitting diodes base on copolymer BE‐co‐MEH‐PPV and BD‐co‐MDMO‐PPV reached 3988 and 3864 cd/m², respectively, much higher than that based on homopolymer BE‐PPV (523 cd/m²) and BD‐PPV (333 cd/m²), also higher than that based on MEH‐PPV (3788 cd/m²). The power conversion efficiency (PCE) of solar cells based on BE‐co‐MEH‐PPV and BD‐co‐MDMO‐PPV reached 1.41, 0.76%, respectively, much higher than that based on BE‐PPV (0.24%) and BD‐PPV (0.14%). Copyright © 2010 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of trans‐ and cis‐isomeric defects on the localization of the charged excitations in π‐conjugated organic polymers

We use the long‐range‐corrected hybrid density functional theory models to study the effect of various conformational distortions of weak‐trans and strong‐cis nature on the spatial localization of charged states in poly(p‐phenylene vinylene) (PPV) and its derivative poly[2‐methoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)‐p‐phenylene vinylene] (MEH‐PPV). The extent of self‐trapping of positive (P⁺) and negative (P^?) polarons is observed to be highly sensitive to molecular conformation that, in turn, controls the distribution of atomic charges within the polymers. It is shown that, to reach good agreement with recent experimental data on lattice distortion for P⁺ and P^? excitations, the polarization of the medium plays a critical role. The introduction of weak‐trans defects along the MEH‐PPV chain breaks the observed symmetry for P⁺ and P^? excitations. The P^? states exhibit more spatial localization owing to lattice relaxation than their vacuum counterparts in contrast to P⁺. These observations suggest higher mobilities of holes than that of electrons in MEH‐PPV, in agreement with the experimental observations. The predicted binding, reorganization, and solvation energies for PPV and MEH‐PPV are analyzed for this difference in the response behavior of holes and electrons for trans and cis distortions. This study allows for a better understanding of charge‐transport and photophysical properties in π‐conjugated organic materials by analyzing their underlying structure–property correlations. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. 1 1 This article is a U.S. Government work, and as such, is in the public domain in the United States of America.
J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2013 , 51, 935–942     

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     

High‐quality poly[2‐methoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)‐p‐phenylenevinylene] synthesized by a solid–liquid two‐phase reaction: Characterizations and electroluminescence properties

Poly[2‐methoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)‐p‐phenylenevinylene] (MEH‐PPV) with a molar mass of 26–47 × 10⁴ g mol^?1 and a polydispersity of 2.5–3.2 was synthesized by a liquid–solid two‐phase reaction. The liquid phase was tetrahydrofuran (THF) containing 1,4‐bis(chloromethyl)‐2‐methoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)benzene as the monomer and a certain amount of tetrabutylammonium bromide as a phase‐transfer catalyst. The solid phase consisted of potassium hydroxide particles with diameters smaller than 0.5 mm. The reaction was carried out at a low temperature of 0 °C and under nitrogen protection. No gelation was observed during the polymerization process, and the polymer was soluble in the usual organic solvents, such as chloroform, toluene, THF, and xylene. A polymer light‐emitting diode was fabricated with MEH‐PPV as an active luminescent layer. The device had an indium tin oxide/poly(3,4‐ethylenedioxylthiophene) (PEDOT)/MEH‐PPV/Ba/Al configuration. It showed a turn‐on voltage of 3.3 V, a luminescence intensity at 6.1 V of 550 cd/m², a luminescence efficiency of 0.43 cd/A, and a quantum efficiency of 0.57%. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 3049–3054, 2004     

Electrospinning of polystyrene/poly(2‐methoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylene vinylene) blends

Ultrafine polystyrene (PS)/poly(2‐methoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylene vinylene) (MEH‐PPV) fibers were successfully prepared by electrospinning of PS/MEH‐PPV solutions in chloroform, 1,2‐dichloroethane, and tetrahydrofuran (THF). Three concentrations of the solutions were prepared: 8.5, 16, and 23.5% (w/v), with the compositional weight ratios between PS and MEH‐PPV being 7.5:1, 15:1, and 22.5:1, respectively. Smooth fibers only observed from 23.5% (w/v) PS/MEH‐PPV solution in chloroform. Improvement in the electrospinnability of 8.5% (w/v) PS/MEH‐PPV solution in chloroform was achieved by addition of an organic salt, pyridinium formate (PF), or by addition of a minor solvent with a high dielectric constant value. The average diameters of the as‐spun PS/MEH‐PPV fibers were between 0.30 and 5.11 μm. Last, photoluminescence of 8.5% (w/v) solutions of PS/MEH‐PPV in a mixed solvent system of chloroform and 1,2‐dichloroethane of various volumetric compositions and the resulting as‐spun fibers was investigated and compared. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 43: 1881–1891, 2005     

Novel route to poly(p‐phenylene vinylene) polymers

Poly(p‐phenylene vinylene) (PPV), poly(2,5‐dioctyl‐p‐phenylene vinylene) (PDOPPV), and poly[2‐methoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)‐p‐phenylene vinylene] (MEHPPV) were synthesized by a liquid–solid two‐phase reaction. The liquid phase was tetrahydrofuran containing 1,4‐bis(bromomethyl)benzene, 1,4‐bis(chloromethyl)‐2,5‐dioctylbenzene, or 1,4‐bis(chloromethyl)‐2‐methoxyl‐5‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)benzene as the monomer and a certain amount of tetrabutylammonium bromide as a phase‐transfer catalyst. The solid phase consisted of potassium hydroxide particles with diameters smaller than 2 mm. The experimental results demonstrated that the reaction conversions of PPV and PDOPPV were fairly high (～65%), but the conversion of MEHPPV was only 45%. Moreover, gelation was found in the polymerization processes. As a result, PPV was insoluble and PDOPPV and MEHPPV were partially soluble in the usual organic solvents, such as tetrahydrofuran and chloroform. Soluble PDOPPV and MEHPPV were obtained with chloromethylbenzene or bromomethylbenzene as a retardant regent. The molar mass of soluble PDOPPV was measured to be 2 × 10⁴ g mol^?1, and that of MEHPPV was 6 × 10⁴ g mol^?1. A thin, compact film of MEHPPV was formed via spin coating, and it emitted a yellow light. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 449–455, 2003     

Synthesis,Electrochemical, and Optical Properties of a Novel PPV/PPE Block‐Copolymer

Summary: A novel poly(p‐phenylene vinylene) (PPV)/poly(p‐phenylene ethynylene) (PPE) block‐copolymer was synthesized by a cross‐coupling polycondensation with Pd(PPh₃)₂Cl₂ and a phase‐transfer catalyst, and was confirmed by ¹H NMR and IR spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The thermal, electrochemical, and photoluminescent properties of the new copolymer have been investigated. The incorporation of triple bonds into the cyano‐substituted PPV (CN‐PPV) backbone leads to higher oxidation and reduction potentials than poly(2‐methoxy‐5‐(2‐ethylhexyloxy)‐p‐phenylene vinylene) (MEH‐PPV) and CN‐PPV, potentially making the copolymer a good electron‐transporting material for use in a light‐emitting‐diode device.

The cyclic voltammogram of the novel poly(p‐phenylene vinylene) (PPV)/poly(p‐phenylene ethynylene) (PPE) block‐copolymer synthesized here.     

Variable Temperature Single‐Molecule Dynamics of MEH‐PPV

Herein, we continue our investigation of the single‐molecule spectroscopy of the conjugated polymer poly[2‐methoxy,5‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)‐p‐phenylene‐vinylene] (MEH‐PPV) at cryogenic temperatures. First, the low temperature microsecond dynamics of single MEH‐PPV conjugated polymer molecules are compared to the dynamics at room temperature revealing no detectible temperature dependence. The lack of temperature dependence is consistent with the previous assignment of the dynamics to a mechanism that involves intersystem crossing and triplet–triplet annihilation. Second, the fluorescence spectra of single MEH‐PPV molecules at low temperature are studied as a function of excitation wavelength (i.e. 488, 543, and 568 nm). These results exhibit nearly identical fluorescence spectra for different excitation wavelengths. This strongly suggests that electronic energy transfer occurs efficiently to a small number of low‐energy sites in the multichromophoric MEH‐PPV chains.     

Conformation and luminescence characteristics of nanopoly[2‐metoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethyl‐hexyloxy)‐p‐phenylene vinylene] in two‐dimensional arrays

With anodic alumina with an ordered nanopore array used as a template, poly[2‐metoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethyl‐hexyloxy)‐p‐phenylene vinylene] (MEH–PPV) was embedded into the nanopores, and then two‐dimensional arrays of light‐emitting nanopolymers were prepared. By the measurement and analysis of photoluminescence and photoluminescence excitation spectra of the samples, it was demonstrated that the optical properties of the nano‐MEH–PPV arrays were obviously different from those of MEH–PPV films. The conformations of the MEH–PPV chains in the nanopores, films, and solutions and their effects on the optical properties were examined. It was determined experimentally that the conformations of the MEH–PPV chains in the solutions were maintained in the nano‐MEH–PPV arrays. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 44: 3037–3041, 2006     

A novel conjugated polymer containing alternating p‐ and n‐type moieties with balanced properties of conducting holes and electrons

A new electroluminescent conjugated polymer consisting of 2,2′‐bipyridylenevinylene (BPyV) and 2‐methoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene (MEH‐PV) moieties (BPy‐MEH‐PPV), was synthesized by incorporating an n‐dope type moiety, BPyV, and a p‐dope type moiety, MEH‐PV, into the polymer chain. This facile method provides a new approach to the synthesis of conjugated polymers with balanced ability of conducting electrons and holes. PBy‐MEH‐PPV exhibits tunable optical properties through protonation, and the emissive color can be progressively changed from orange to deep red depending on the degree of protonation.     

Fluorescent PMMA/MEH‐PPV electrospun nanofibers: Investigation of morphology,solvent, and surfactant effect

Electrospinning is a powerful technique to produce nanofibers of tunable diameter and morphology for medicine and biotechnological applications. By doping electrospun nanofibers with inorganic and organic compounds, new functionalities can be provided for technological applications. Herein, we report a study on the morphology and optical properties of electrospun nanofibers based on the conjugated polymer poly[2‐methoxy‐5‐(2‐ethylhexyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene] (MEH‐PPV) and poly(methylmethacrylate) (PMMA). Initially, we investigate the influence of the solvent, surfactant, and the polymer concentration on electrospinning of PMMA. After determining the best conditions, 0.1% MEH‐PPV was added to obtain fluorescent nanofibers. The optical characterizations display the successful impregnation of MEH‐PPV into the PMMA fibers without phase separation and the preservation of fluorescent property after fiber electrospinning. The obtained results show the ability of the electrospinning approach to obtain fluorescent PMMA/MEH‐PPV nanofibers with potential for optical devices applications. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part B: Polym. Phys. 2014 , 52, 1388–1394     

Dependence of the luminescent properties and chain length of poly[2‐methoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethyl‐hexyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylene vinylene] on the formation of cis‐vinylene bonds during Gilch polymerization

The presence of cis‐vinylene bonds in Gilch‐polymerized poly[2‐methoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethyl‐hexyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylene vinylene] is reported. Through fractionation, species with a weight‐average molecular weight of less than 37,000 exhibited an abnormal blueshift of photoluminescence spectra in toluene solutions, and this was attributed to the presence of cis‐vinylene bonds, as verified by NMR spectroscopy. Surprisingly, the fractionated species (～1 wt %) with a weight‐average molecular weight of 5000 were mostly linked by the cis‐vinylene bonds. The concentration decreased with the molecular weight until a molecular weight of 37,000 was reached; at that point, the polymer chains contained mainly trans‐vinylene bonds. Obviously, the formation of cis‐vinylene bonds strongly inhibited the growth of polymer chains during Gilch polymerization. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 2520–2526, 2005     

Alternating π‐conjugated block copolymers with precise block length

A Sonogashira polycondensation reaction has been used to synthesize copolymers consisting of alternating oligo(p‐phenyleneethynylene) with a precise block length as an electron‐rich component and 1,4‐bis(2‐phenylene‐2‐cyanovinylene)benzene or 2,6‐bis(2‐pyridinylene‐ethynylene)pyridine as an electron‐poor component. The copolymers differ in the length of the phenyleneethynylene block (trimer or pentamer) and the content of the electron‐poor component. The length of the phenyleneethynylene block has no influence on the maximum wavelength. The electron‐poor cyano‐block component lowers the optical band‐gap energy of the copolymers. The value is equivalent to that of poly(cyano‐phenylenevinylene) (CN‐PPV) (2.3–2.4 eV). © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3574–3587, 2005     

Synthesis of new polyfluorene copolymers with a comonomer containing triphenylamine units and their applications in white‐light‐emitting diodes

Novel conjugated polyfluorene copolymers, poly[9,9‐dihexylfluorene‐2,7‐diyl‐co‐(2,5‐bis(4′‐diphenylaminostyryl)‐phenylene‐1,4‐diyl)]s (PGs), have been synthesized by nickel(0)‐mediated polymerization from 2,7‐dibromo‐9,9‐dihexylfluorene and 1,4′‐dibromo‐2,5‐bis(4‐diphenylaminostyryl)benzene with various molar ratios of the monomers. Because of the incorporation of triphenylamine (TPA) moieties, PGs exhibit much higher HOMO levels than the corresponding polyfluorene homopolymers and are able to facilitate hole injection into the polymer layer from the anode electrode in light‐emitting diodes. Conventional polymeric light‐emitting devices with the configuration ITO/PEDOT:PSS/polymer/Ca/Al have been fabricated. A light‐emitting device produced with one of the PG copolymers (PG10) as the emitting layer exhibited a voltage‐independent and stable bluish‐green emission with color coordinates of (0.22, 0.42) at 5 V. The maximum brightness and current efficiency of the PG10 device were 3370 cd/m² (at 9.6 V) and 0.6 cd/A, respectively. To realize a white polymeric light‐emitting diode, PG10 as the host material was blended with 1.0 wt % of a red‐light‐emitting polymer, poly[9,9‐dioctylfluorene‐2,7‐diyl‐alt‐2,5‐bis(2‐thienyl‐2‐cyanovinyl)‐1‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)‐4‐methoxybenzene‐5′,5′‐diyl] (PFR4‐S), and poly[2‐methoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene] (MEH‐PPV). The device based on PG10:PFR4‐S showed an almost perfect pure white electroluminescence emission, with Commission Internationale de l'Eclairage (CIE) coordinates of (0.33, 0.36) at 8 V; for the PG10:MEH‐PPV device, the CIE coordinates at this voltage were (0.30, 0.40) with a maximum brightness of 1930 cd/m². Moreover, the white‐light emission from the PG10:PFR4‐S device was stable even at different driving voltages and had CIE coordinates of (0.34, 0.36) at 6 V and (0.31, 0.35) at 10 V. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 1199–1209, 2007     

Versatile route for tuning optical properties of poly(2‐methoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene)

In this contribution, we report a versatile method for tuning optical properties of poly(2‐methoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylenevinylene) (MEH‐PPV) in its solution with 1,2‐dichloroethane, accomplished by reacting with pyridinium formate (PF), a volatile organic salt. We can systematically control the positions of absorption and photoluminescent (PL) spectra of MEH‐PPV by adjusting the concentration of PF in the solution. The addition of 10 vol % PF caused a blue‐shift in the absorption spectra by about 65 nm. When the concentration of PF decreased to 0.1 vol %, the blue‐shift occurred to a lesser extent, about 25 nm. The measurements of PL spectra showed similar behaviors. The λ_max shifted from 558 nm to 546 and 552 nm when 10 and 0.1 vol % of PF were added, respectively. The changes of PL colors from orange to yellow and green, respectively, were observed by naked eyes. Structural investigation by nuclear magnetic resonance and Fourier‐transformed infrared spectroscopy indicated that the changes of the optical properties were due to chemical modifications along the main chain and the side groups of MEH‐PPV. These results implied a simple route for engineering the HOMO–LUMO energy gap of MEH‐PPV, which could be utilized in advanced applications such as organic light‐emitting devices and solar cells. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 47: 696–705, 2009     

High red,green, and blue color purity electroluminescence from MEH‐PPV and polyalkyfluorenes‐based bright white polymer light emitting displays

A series of white polymer light emitting displays (PLEDs) based on a polymer blend of polyalkylfluorenes and poly(2‐methoxy‐5,2′‐ethyl‐hexyloxy‐1,4‐phenylene vinylene) (MEH‐PPV) was developed. MEH‐PPV or red light emitting alkyfluorene copolymer (PFR) was blended with blue light emitting alkyfluorene copolymer (PFB), and MEH‐PPV was blended with both green light emitting alkyfluorene copolymer (PFG) and PFB to generate white light emission PLEDs. Low turn on voltage (2.7 V), high brightness (12,149 nits), high efficiency (4.0 cd/A, 4.0 lm/W), and good color purity (Commission Internationale de L'Eclairage (CIE_x,y) co‐ordinates (0.32, 0.34)) were obtained for the white PLEDs based on the PFB and MEH‐PPV polymer blend. Exciplex formation in the interface between PFR and PFB induced a new green emission peak for these two components based white PLEDs. As a result, strong white emission (4078 nits) was obtained by mixing the red, green, and blue (RGB) three primary colors. High color purity of blue (CIE, x = 0.14, y = 0.08), green (CIE, x = 0.32, y = 0.64) and red (CIE, x = 0.67, y = 0.33) emissions was achieved for white PLEDs combining with dielectric interference color‐filters. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys 45: 330–341, 2007     

A phenylenevinylene‐thiophene‐phenyleneethynylene copolymer: synthesis,characterization, and photovoltaic properties

A phenylenevinylene‐thiophene‐phenyleneethynylene copolymer, poly{[1′,4′‐bis‐(thienyl‐vinyl)]‐2‐methoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylene‐vinylene‐alt‐1,4‐dioctyloxyl‐phenyleneethynylene}(PTPPV‐ PPE), was synthesized by the Sonogashira Pd‐catalyzed cross‐coupling reaction. The copolymer possesses higher thermal decomposition temperature (T_d = 382°C) compared with poly{[1′,4′‐bis‐ (thienyl‐vinyl)]‐2‐methoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethylhexyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylene‐vinylene} (PTPPV). The absorption and photoluminescence (PL) peaks of PTPPV‐PPE solution and solid film locate in between those of the homopolymers of PTPPV and poly(1,4‐dioctyloxyl‐phenyleneethynylene) (PPE), and closer to that of PTPPV. Photovoltaic cell was fabricated based on the blend of PTPPV‐PPE and PCBM with a weight ratio of 1:1. The primary result shows an open circuit voltage (V_oc) of 0.72 V which is higher than that of the PTPPV (0.67 V), and a power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 0.3% under the illumination of AM1.5, 100 mW/cm² which is much better than that of PPEs. Copyright © 2008 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Effect of n‐type doping on the hole transport in poly(p‐phenylene vinylene)

N‐type doping of poly(2‐methoxy‐5‐(2′‐ethyl‐hexyloxy)‐p‐phenylene vinylene) (MEH‐PPV) with decamethylcobaltocene (DMC) strongly improves the electron transport due to filling of the electron traps. Unexpectedly, the n‐type doping simultaneously suppresses the hole transport in MEH‐PPV. We demonstrate that this strong reduction of the hole transport originates from unionized DMC molecules that act as hole traps. This hole trapping effect explains why the current of a DMC‐doped MEH‐PPV polymer light‐emitting diode is orders of magnitude lower than that of the undoped device. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part B: Polym Phys, 2011     

Segmented poly[2‐methoxy‐5‐(2‐ethylhexyloxy)‐1,4‐phenylene vinylene] via xanthate and dithiocarbamate precursors: A comparative study of thermal eliminations

Segmented poly[2‐methoxy‐5‐(2‐ethylhexloxy)‐1,4‐phenylene vinylene] (MEH‐PPV)‐x's, which contain conjugated segments of varying lengths that are interspersed by nonconjugated units along the polymer backbone, were synthesized by selective thermal elimination of precursors containing controlled amounts (x) of a thermally labile group, namely, xanthate or dithiocarbamate (DTC). These precursors were in turn synthesized by competitive nucleophilic substitution of the Wessling polyelectrolyte with varying molar fractions of the respective nucleophiles—potassium ethyl xanthate or sodium diethyl dithiocarbamate. Methanol, used as the reaction medium, also served to introduce the second thermally less labile nucleophilic substituent. This approach for the preparation of segmented MEH‐PPV‐x is superior to the previous approach that used acetate as the thermally labile group, because it offers greater control over the composition despite a simpler synthetic procedure. Detailed studies of the thermal‐elimination kinetics of the three precursors, namely, acetate, xanthate, and DTC, both in solution and in thin films, were carried by in situ monitoring of their ultraviolet–visible spectra. These studies revealed that the rates of elimination followed the order, DTC > xanthate > acetate. The activation energies for the elimination were, however, not widely different (ca. 30 kcal/mol), suggesting that the rates primarily reflected differences in the pre‐exponential factor. After elimination, the segmented MEH‐PPV‐x samples exhibited the expected redshift in their absorption and fluorescence spectra with an increasing molar fraction (x) of eliminated segments, which was accompanied by a drastic reduction in the fluorescence quantum yields. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 3929–3940, 2003     

Synthesis and chiroptical properties of poly (p‐phenylenevinylene‐alt‐m‐phenylenevinylene) bearing (−)‐trans‐myrtanoxyl groups on the p‐phenylene rings

Chiral poly(p‐phenylenevinylene‐alt‐m‐phenylenevinylene)s bearing (?)‐trans‐myrtanoxyl groups on the p‐phenylene rings were synthesized by Wittig's reaction and Heck's reaction, respectively, namely Myr‐PMPV‐w and Myr‐PMPV‐h correspondingly. The chiroptical properties of the polymers were investigated in chlorobenzene solution by circular dichroism. The results showed that both Myr‐PMPV‐w and Myr‐PMPV‐h showed no Cotton effect due to their irregular molecular structure. By the treatment with I₂, most of the cis‐vinylene linkages in Myr‐PMPV‐w were converted to trans‐vinylenes, consequently, the structure of Myr‐PMPV‐w became much more regular, and the resulting polymer ( iso‐Myr‐PMPV‐w ) showed strong bisignate Cotton effects in the π–π* transition. Compared to its analogous poly(p‐phenylenevinylene) (PPV) ( iso‐Myr‐PPV‐w ), iso‐Myr‐PMPV‐w showed much stronger Cotton effect, its maximum g value was about one order of magnitude higher than that of iso‐Myr‐PPV‐w under the same conditions. With increasing concentration and decreasing temperature, the g_max value of iso‐Myr‐PMPV‐w increased, and the maximum absorption was slightly blue‐shifted, but the shape and range of absorption curves did not changed significantly, and no clear isosbestic point could be observed. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 46: 3336–3343, 2008