Synthesis and properties of through‐space conjugated polymers based on π–π stacked 1,3‐biarylpropane tethering units

Novel skipped‐π polymers in which the π‐components are connected with 2‐substituted trimethylene tethering units exhibit bathochromically shifted, broadened ultraviolet absorption with a unique lower‐energy absorption band and a largely red‐shifted fluorescent emission. These results suggest that through‐space π–π interactions owing to a stair‐like stacking substructure in these polymers extend the π‐conjugation of the components in the ground and excited states. As the photophysical properties of the polymers observed both in a solution and in a dried film are similar to those of the J‐aggregates of π‐molecules, these polymers may be considered as pseudo J‐stacking (or J‐like‐stacking) polymers. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 3412–3419     

Synthesis of π‐conjugated oligomer that can form metallo polymers

An oligo(p‐phenylene vinylene) that contains terpyridine ligands has been synthesized. Upon addition of metal ions, a π‐conjugated metallo polymer is formed in which the well‐defined character of oligomers and the material properties of polymers are combined. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 4020–4023, 2002     

Donor–acceptor‐integrated conjugated polymers based on carbazole[3,4‐c:5,6‐c]bis[1,2,5]thiadiazole with tight π–π stacking for photovoltaics

An original strategy to construct a new donor–acceptor (D–A)‐integrated structure by directly imposing “pull” unit on the “push” moiety to form fused ring architecture has been developed, and poly{N‐alkyl‐carbazole[3,4‐c:5,6‐c]bis[1,2,5]thiadiazole‐alt‐thiophene} (PCBTT) with D–A‐integrated structure, in which two 1,2,5‐thiadiazole rings are fixed on carbazole in 3‐, 4‐ and 5‐, 6‐position symmetrically and thiophene is used as bridge, has been synthesized. The interaction between pull and push units has fine tuned the HOMO/LUMO energy levels, and the resulting copolymer covers the solar flux from 300 to 750 nm. The interaction between pull and push units is worth noting that due to the fused five rings inducing strong intermolecular interaction, an extremely short π–π stacking distance of 0.32 nm has been achieved for PCBTT both in powder and solid states. This is the shortest π–π stacking distance reported for conjugated polymers. Additionally, an obvious intramolecular charge transfer and energy transfer from donor units to acceptor units have been detected in this D–A integration. A moderate‐to‐high open‐circuit voltage of ～0.7 V in PCBTT:[6,6]‐phenyl‐C61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM) (w/w = 1/2) solar cells is achieved due to the low‐lying HOMO energy level of PCBTT. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2013     

Synthesis and characterization of new π‐conjugated polymers containing 1,8‐naphthyridine in the main chain: Role of the 1,8‐naphthyridine unit in π‐conjugated polymers

Alternating π‐conjugated copolymers of 1,8‐naphthyridine‐2,6‐diyl ( 1,8‐Nap ) with 9,9‐dioctylfluorene‐2,7‐diyl ( P(Flu‐Ph‐1,8‐Nap) ) and 2,5‐didodecyloxy‐1,4‐phenylene ( P(ROPh‐Ph‐1,8‐Nap) ) have been synthesized by Pd‐catalyzed organometallic polycondensation. The copolymers showed UV‐vis absorption peaks at around 390 nm in o‐dichlorobenzene. The polymers were photoluminescent both in o‐dichlorobenzene and in the solid state. In o‐dichlorobenzene, the emission peaks of P(Flu‐Ph‐1,8‐Nap) and P(ROPh‐Ph‐1.,8‐Nap) appeared at λ_EM = 440 and 471 nm, with quantum yields of 87% and 66%, respectively. Electrochemical data revealed that 1,8‐Nap behaved as a typical electron‐accepting unit. When P(Flu‐Ph‐1,8‐Nap) was treated with 10‐camphorsulfonic acid, the emission peak shifted to λ_EM = 598 nm. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Organosilicon polymers with alternating σ- and π-conjugated systems

A series of organosilicon polymers containing polysilane and diethynylaryl units along the polymer backbone were synthesized and examined with respect to their optical absorptions. The results indicate that delocalization takes place through the σ–π conjugated system. Lengthening of π-conjugation leads to lower excitation energies while nearly identical UV–vis spectra are observed with increased Si–Si chain length. Introducing a thiophene unit into the π-system instead of a benzene unit leads to a bathochromic shift reflecting greater σ–π delocalization. The polymers undergo photodegradation, probably via cleavage of the Si–Si bonds, and thermal crosslinking by reaction at the C≡C triple bonds. When doped with iodine, these polymers become semiconducting with conductivity of the order of 10^?4 S cm^?1.     

Synthesis and characterization of porphyrin‐based D‐π‐A conjugated polymers for polymer solar cells

Two novel porphyrin‐based D‐A conjugated copolymers, PFTTQP and PBDTTTQP , consisting of accepting quinoxalino[2,3‐b′]porphyrin unit and donating fluorene or benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]dithiophene unit, were synthesized, respectively via a Pd‐catalyzed Stille‐coupling method. The quinoxalino[2,3‐b′]porphyrin, an edge‐fused porphyrin monomer, was used as a building block of D‐A copolymers, rather than the simple porphyrin unit in conventional porphyrin‐based photovoltaic polymers reported in literature, to enhance the coplanarity and to extend the π‐conjugated system of polymer main chains, and consequently to facilitate the intramolecular charge transfer (ICT). The thermal stability, optical, and electrochemical properties as well as the photovoltaic characteristics of the two polymers were systematically investigated. Both the polymers showed high hole mobility, reaching 4.3 × 10^?4 cm² V^?1 s^?1 for PFTTQP and 2.0 × 10^?4 cm² V^?1 s^?1 for PBDTTTQP . Polymer solar cells (PSCs) made from PFTTQP and PBDTTTQP demonstrated power conversion efficiencies (PCEs) of 2.39% and 1.53%, both of which are among the highest PCE values in the PSCs based on porphyrin‐based conjugated polymers. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013     

Covalently Scaffolded Inter‐π‐System Orientations in π‐Conjugated Polymers and Small Molecule Models

Organic π‐conjugated polymers have emerged as one of the most fascinating classes of materials as they have found utility in a host of plastic electronics technologies. The distance between π‐systems and their relative orientation dictate energy/charge transfer, conductivity, and photophysical properties of these materials in bulk. This Feature Article discusses π‐conjugated polymers and model compounds in which specific inter‐π‐system interactions are covalently enforced and the effect that the scaffolding has on optoelectronic properties.

     

Benzodifuran‐containing well‐defined π‐conjugated polymers for photovoltaic cells

Two well‐defined alternating π‐conjugated polymers containing a soluble electroactive benzo[1,2‐b:4,5‐b′]difuran (BDF) chromophore, poly(BDF‐(9‐phenylcarbazole)) (PBDFC), and poly(BDF‐benzothiadiazole) (PBDFBTD) were synthesized via Sonogashira copolymerizations. Their optical, electrochemical, and field‐effect charge transport properties were characterized and compared with those of the corresponding homopolymer PBDF and random copolymers of the same overall composition. All these polymers cover broad optical absorption ranges from 250 to 750 nm with narrow optical band gaps of 1.78–2.35 eV. Both PBDF and PBDFBTD show ambipolar redox properties with HOMO levels of ?5.38 and ?5.09 eV, respectively. The field‐effect mobility of holes varies from 2.9 × 10^?8 cm² V^?1 s^?1 in PBDF to 1.0 × 10^?5 cm² V^?1 s^?1 in PBDFBTD. Bulk heterojunction solar cell devices were fabricated using the polymers as the electron donor and [6,6]‐phenyl‐C₆₁‐butyric acid methyl ester as the electron acceptor, leading to power conversion efficiencies of 0.24–0.57% under air mass 1.5 illumination (100 mW cm^?2). These results indicate that their band gaps, molecular electronic energy levels, charge mobilities, and molecular weights are readily tuned by copolymerizing the BDF core with different π‐conjugated units. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Synthesis of novel π‐conjugating polymers based on dibenzothiophene

Novel π‐conjugating polymers based on dibenzothiophene were synthesized with a novel dibenzothiophene derivative, 2,8‐bis(4,4,5,5‐tetramethyl‐1,3,2‐dioxaborolan‐2‐yl)dibenzothiophene ( 1 ), prepared from dibenzothiophene. The Suzuki coupling polycondensation of 1 with 2,7‐dibromo‐9,9‐dioctylfluorene, 3,6‐dibromo‐9‐octylcarbazole, or 1,4‐dibromo‐2,5‐dioctyloxybenzene afforded the corresponding dibenzothiophene‐based polymers. The measurements of photoluminescence indicated that all these polymers exhibited blue emission in solution. The copolymer containing dibenzothiophene and 9,9‐dioctylfluorene units exhibited higher thermal stability than poly[(9,9‐dioctylfluorene‐2,7‐diyl)], although the quantum yield of copolymer was lower than that of poly[(9,9‐dioctylfluorene‐2,7‐diyl)]. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 41: 1521–1526, 2003     

Synthesis and characterization of novel π‐conjugated polymers with phosphole ring derivatives

Novel π‐conjugated polymers ( 8 – 10 ) were prepared by the palladium‐catalyzed Sonogashira coupling reaction of three kinds of phosphole‐ring‐containing monomers with 2,5‐dihexyloxyl‐1,4‐diethynylbenzene. The obtained polymers ( 8 – 10 ) were regioregulated with the 2,5‐substituted phosphole ring in the polymer main chain and characterized with ¹H, ¹³C, and ³¹P NMR and FTIR. Polymers 8 – 10 were found to have an extended π‐conjugated system according to the results of UV–vis absorption spectra. In the fluorescence emission spectra of 8 – 10 , moderate emission peaks were observed in the visible blue‐to‐green region. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 2867–2875, 2007     

Structure–property relationships of ionene polymers

The synthesis of new ionenes was accomplished by the reaction of novel diamines and dihalides. A new class of crosslinkable ionenes was made possible by the synthesis of tertiary diamines with acrylate functionality, generated ultimately from diepoxides and secondary amines. Other tertiary diamines were produced by endcapping of diols with tolylene diisocyanate, followed by reaction with N,N-dimethylethanolamine and also termination of living poly(tetrahydrofuran) polymer with dimethylamine. New dihalides were produced by the opening of diepoxides with ω-bromoacids. These diamines and dihalides underwent Menschutkin reactions providing novel ionenes for structure–property relationship studies. Correlations were drawn concerning amine nucleophilicity, dihalide nucleofugascity, and molecular weight. Stress–strain and thermal data reflected the effects of ionic domains and large flexible segments in the polymers. Also considered were the electrical conductivity, moisture–vapor transmission, and oxygen permeability of these materials.     

Low bandgap π‐conjugated copolymers based on fused thiophenes and benzothiadiazole: Synthesis and structure‐property relationship study

A series of low bandgap conjugated polymers consisting of benzothiadiazole alternating with dithienothiophene (DTT) or dithienopyrrole (DTP) unit with or without 3‐alkylthiophene bridge have been synthesized. Effect of the fused rings and 3‐alkylthiophene bridge on the thermal, optical, electrochemical, charge transport, and photovoltaic properties of these polymers have been investigated. These polymers show broad absorption extending from 300 to 1000 nm with optical bandgaps as low as 1.2 eV; the details of which can be varied either by incorporating 3‐alkylthiophene bridge or by replacing DTT with DTP. The LUMO levels (?2.9 to ?3.3 eV) are essentially unaffected by the specific choice of donor moiety, whereas the HOMO levels (?4.6 to ?5.6 eV) are more sensitive to the choice of donor. The DTT and DTP polymers with 3‐alkylthiophene bridge were found to exhibit hole mobilities of 8 × 10^?5 and 3 × 10^?2 cm² V^?1 s^?1, respectively, in top‐contact organic field‐effect transistors. Power conversion efficiencies in the range 0.17–0.43% were obtained under simulated AM 1.5, 100 mW cm^?2 irradiation for polymer solar cells using the DTT and DTP‐based polymers with 3‐alkylthiophene bridge as donor and fullerene derivatives as acceptor. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 5498–5508, 2009     

Alternated π‐conjugated polymers based on a 1,2‐diiminocyclohexane chiral unit for nitroaromatics sensing

The detection of 2,4‐dinitrotoluene (DNT) by fluorescence quenching of a new class of polyimines consisting in π‐conjugated segments regularly alternated with chiral C₂ symmetry units has been studied for solutions and thin films. Their photophysical properties and their sensitivity towards DNT detection has been compared to those of a small model molecule incorporating the same π‐conjugated segment. In solution, all the compounds exhibit the same photo‐physical properties and sensitivity towards DNT detection. In contrast, for thin films, better performances are observed in static conditions for this new class of polyimines compared to the small model molecule. It seems that C₂ symmetry units prevent from the stacking of the π‐conjugated segments and provide in addition to high fluorescence signal an improved diffusion of the analyte inside the films. © 2009 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 47: 4141–4149, 2009     

Solution‐processed high‐performance orange phosphorescent and white PLEDs with a high color‐rendering index from an unprecedented π‐stacked and π‐conjugated host material

A blue fluorescent polymer based on poly(vinyl carbazole) (PVK) and terfluorene, combined to make a chemical hybrid at the carbazole unit (PVK‐TF), is fully characterized in this study. PVK‐TF shows useful emission features, such as peaks at 400, 420, 437, 460, and 496 nm, depending on the processing conditions. It possesses a relatively high triplet energy level (2.23 eV), electrochemical stability, good film‐forming ability, and morphological stability. Based on this blue fluorescent material, highly efficient orange phosphorescent polymer light‐emitting diodes (PLEDs) were fabricated with a maximum efficiency of 21.99 cd A^?1, and a maximum luminance of 19552.3 cd m^?2. Single‐layer hybrid white PLEDs were developed, with a high color rendering index of 81.9 that emitted across the whole visible spectrum from 380 to 780 nm, corresponding to the Commission International de L'Eclairage coordinates x, y values of around (0.38, 0.40) and CCT = 3774, with a maximum current efficiency of 10.69 cd A^?1, and a maximum brightness of 15723.3 cd m^?2. © 2014 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. Part B: Polym. Phys. 2014 , 52, 587–595     

New π‐stacked benzofulvene polymer showing thermoreversible polymerization: Studies in macromolecular and aggregate structures and polymerization mechanism

The macromolecular and aggregate structures of poly[ethyl 1‐methylene‐3‐(4‐methylphenyl)‐1H‐indene‐2‐carboxylate] (poly‐ BF1 ; a new polymer based on a functionalized benzofulvene moiety showing interesting properties, i.e., thermoreversible polymerization/depolymerization behavior, high solubility in the most common organic solvents, and susceptibility to molecular manipulation) have been investigated with NMR spectroscopy, absorption and emission spectrophotometry, and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). Moreover, the polymerization mechanism has been studied to obtain further information on the polymer structure. The collected evidence is consistent in indicating for poly‐ BF1 a vinyl (1,2) polymer structure stabilized by means of aromatic stacking interactions. Furthermore, TEM studies performed on metal replicas have shown that the polymer is liable to give nanostructured aggregates. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 3289–3304, 2005     

Synthesis and optical and electrochemical properties of new π‐conjugated 1,3,5‐triazine‐containing polymers

Two new π‐conjugated polymers containing 1,3,5‐triazine units in the main chain, Pa and Pb , are reported. Pa and Pb (R = H and ? OCH₃, respectively) showed blue photoluminescence emissions with quantum yields of more than 50% in toluene. In the solid state, Pa and Pb showed photoluminescence maximum emission peaks at 479 and 475 nm, respectively. Electrochemically, Pa and Pb showed good stability and reversibility under repeated electrochemical reduction. The polymers had glass‐transition temperatures higher than 90 °C and had 5 wt % loss temperatures higher than 400 °C. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 6554–6561, 2005     

Naphthodithiophene‐Diketopyrrolopyrrole‐Based donor–Acceptor alternating π‐Conjugated polymers for Organic thin‐Film transistors

Novel naphtho[1,2‐b:5,6‐b′]dithiophene (NDT) and diketopyrrolopyrrole (DPP)‐containing donor‐acceptor conjugated polymers (PNDTDPPs) with different branched side chains were synthesized via Pd(0)‐catalyzed Stille coupling reaction. Octyldodecyl (OD) and dodecylhexadecyl (DH) groups were tethered to the DPP units as the side chains. The soluble fraction of PNDTDPP‐OD polymer in chloroform has much lower molecular weight than that of PNDTDPP‐DH polymer. PNDTDPP‐DH polymer bearing relatively longer DH side chains exhibited much better charge‐transport behavior than PNDTDPP‐OD polymer with shorter OD side chains. The thermally annealed PNDTDPP‐DH polymer thin films exhibited an outstanding charge carrier mobility of ～1.32 cm² V^?1 s^?1 (I_on/I_off ～ 10⁸) measured under ambient conditions, which is almost six times higher than that of thermally annealed PNDTDPP‐OD polymer thin films. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 5280–5290     

Synthesis and optical properties of light‐emitting π‐conjugated polymers containing biphenyl and dithienosilole

Copolymers containing oligo(phenylene vinylene) (2.5), fluorene, and 4,4‐dihexyldithienosilole (DTS) units were synthesized and characterized. The π‐conjugated monomers were joined with the palladium(0)‐catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction, thus forming either biphenyl– or phenyl–thiophene linkages. These polymers were photoluminescent, with the fluorescent quantum efficiency between 54 and 63% and with λ_max for fluorescence at ～448 nm in tetrahydrofuran. The presence of 5% DTS in the copolymers had little influence on the optical absorption and emission wavelengths. Double‐layer light‐emitting‐diode devices using these polymers as emissive layers had low turn‐on voltages (3.5–4 V) and moderate external quantum efficiencies (0.14–0.30%). The results show that DTS plays a positive role in improving the charge‐injection characteristics of poly(phenylene vinylene) materials. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 45: 2048–2058