Photopolymerization of coordinated ionic liquid monomers: Realizing the benefits of structured media using only common reagents

Here, we provide a detailed report on a new type of structured media for improving photopolymerizations: coordinated ionic liquids (ILs). Coordinated ILs are readily formed from the bistriflimide ([Tf₂N]^?) anion and coordination complexes composed of Li⁺ cations with polar organic monomers without an additional cosolvent. Photopolymerization kinetics and monomer conversion were monitored in real time using attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and the material properties of the products were examined using gel permeation chromatography and differential scanning calorimetry. Generally, coordinated IL monomers displayed improved reaction kinetics at both high and low salt concentrations as well as distinct product properties. The noncovalent (and reversible) interactions between monomer and salt in coordinated ILs hold promise as an efficient and versatile form of structured media for photopolymerizations. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 2004–2014     

The influence of using sodium dithionite as SARA agent in miniemulsion ATRP

The supplemental activator and reducing agent atom transfer radical polymerization (SARA ATRP) of butyl acrylate (nBA) and styrene (Sty) using miniemulsion is reported for the first time. The polymerization was carried out in the presence of Cu(II)Br₂‐based catalytic systems using EHA₆TREN or BPMODA* and sodium dithionite (Na₂S₂O₄) as SARA agent. Kinetic data revealed a controlled polymerization for both monomers, with a very stringent control over the molecular weight distribution (Ð ≤ 1.2) but low monomer conversion. Reaction conditions were optimized in an attempt to understand the kinetics of polymerization, aiming to increase the final monomer conversion while maintaining the control over the polymerization. Self‐chain extension reactions revealed low chain end fidelity, which corroborate the impossibility of increasing monomer conversion even after the judicious variation of the main polymerization parameters (monomers, surfactant, deactivator, and Na₂S₂O₄ concentrations, and its method of addition). The data presented suggest a particular feature of Na₂S₂O₄ in these polymerization systems involving the significant formation of dead chains ends, which has never been observed for any other reported system using this SARA agent. In contrast, control ARGET miniemulsion experiments under the same reaction conditions and using ascorbic acid as reducing agent allowed to achieve high monomer conversions. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 879–888     

Fire and Forget! One‐Shot Synthesis and Characterization of Block‐Like Statistical Terpolymers via Living Anionic Polymerization

Diphenylethylene (DPE) is a monomer which has attracted significant interest from academia and industry both in terms of copolymerization kinetics and for the potential to extend and tune the range of glass transition temperatures accessible for DPE‐containing copolymers. DPE can undergo (co)polymerization with a variety of other monomers by living anionic polymerization but is incapable of forming a homopolymer due to steric hindrance. DPE, being a sterically bulky monomer, results in dramatic increases in the glass transition temperature (T_g) of resulting copolymers, with a perfectly alternating copolymer of styrene and DPE having a T_g of ~180 °C. Herein we report for the first time, the outcome of the statistical terpolymerization of butadiene, styrene, and DPE—a one‐pot, one‐shot, commercially scalable reaction using monomers of wide industrial importance. This extremely facile approach produces copolymers with a block‐like structure, which undergo microphase separation, possess a high T_g glassy “block” and are virtually indistinguishable from analogous block terpolymers made by the traditional sequential addition of monomers approach. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 382–394     

Visible‐light induced RAFT polymerization of styrenic monomers with aromatic aldehydes as organophotoredox catalysts

A photoinduced electron transfer‐reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer (PET‐RAFT) polymerization of p‐methylstyrene (p‐MS) and styrene (St) with 2‐(dodecylthiocarbonothioylthio)‐2‐methylpropionic acid as the chain transfer agent (CTA) and aromatic aldehydes, including 4‐cyanobenzaldehyde (PC1), 2,4‐dimethoxy benzaldehyde, and 4‐methoxy benzaldehyde, as organic photocatalysts has been demonstrated via irradiation with 23 W compact fluorescent lamps. The kinetics of the polymerizations shows first order with respect to monomer conversions. Linear evolution of the M_n of the produced polymers with the monomer conversion is observed. Meanwhile, the as‐prepared polymers are of relatively narrow polydispersity (PDI = M_w/M_n). For instance, the polymerization of p‐MS shows living polymerization features using PC1 within a range of solvents. Especially, the M_n of PpMS increased from about 2100 to 12,700 g/mol with the monomer conversion from 8% to 52% in tetrahydrofuran. The controlled polymerization of St is also observed under optimal reaction conditions. However, the M_n discrepancy between the experimental readings and theoretical calculations is greater at the monomer conversions greater than 40% and the PDI increased gradually over the monomer conversion. This is probably because that CTA is strongly sensitive to the light irradiation with wave range around its characteristic absorption wavelength, leading to significant decomposition of CTA moieties during the RAFT polymerization. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 2072–2079     

Polymerized ionic liquids: Effects of counter‐anions on ion conduction and polymerization kinetics

A novel imidazolium‐containing monomer, 1‐[ω‐methacryloyloxydecyl]‐3‐(n‐butyl)‐imidazolium (1BDIMA), was synthesized and polymerized using free radical and controlled free radical polymerization followed by post‐polymerization ion exchange with bromide (Br), tetrafluoroborate (BF₄), hexafluorophosphate (PF₆), or bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (Tf₂N). The thermal properties and ionic conductivity of the polymers showed a strong dependence on the counter‐ions and had glass transition temperatures (T_g) and ion conductivities at room temperature ranging from 10 °C to −42 °C and 2.09 × 10⁻⁷ S cm⁻¹ to 2.45 × 10⁻⁵ S cm⁻¹. In particular, PILs with Tf₂N counter‐ions showed excellent ion conductivity of 2.45 × 10⁻⁵ S cm⁻¹ at room temperature without additional ionic liquids (ILs) being added to the system, making them suitable for further study as electro‐responsive materials. In addition to the counter‐ions, solvent was found to have a significant effect on the reversible addition‐fragmentation chain‐transfer polymerization (RAFT) for 1BDIMA with different counter‐ions. For example, 1BDIMATf₂N would not polymerize in acetonitrile (MeCN) at 65 °C and only achieved low monomer conversion (< 5%) at 75 °C. However, 1BDIMA‐Tf₂N proceeded to high conversion in dimethylformamide (DMF) at 65 °C and 1BDIMABr polymerized significantly faster in DMF compared to MeCN. NMR diffusometry was used to investigate the kinetic differences by probing the diffusion coefficients for each monomer and counter‐ion in MeCN and DMF. These results indicate that the reaction rates are not diffusion limited, and point to a need for deeper understanding of the role electrostatics plays in the kinetics of free radical polymerizations. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 1346–1357     

Ultrafast phosphazene‐promoted controlled anionic polymerization of styrenic monomers

The anionic polymerization of styrenic monomers with phosphazene bases as promoters, utilizing “seeding” technique in a nonpolar solvent and at room temperature was studied. In all experiments, the phosphazene base (t‐BuP₄, t‐BuP₂, and t‐BuP₁) was added in an equimolar amount to the organolithium initiator after the formation of oligomers (2 min) by conventional anionic polymerization. When t‐BuP₄ was used, the polymerization of styrene and 4‐methylstyrene was extremely fast (100 % conversion within 5 min) and the final homopolymers exhibited narrow molecular weight distribution and controlled molecular characteristics. Likewise, when weaker bases were employed, the polymerization was also controlled but showing slower reaction rate. To examine the “livingness” of this system, block copolymers were synthesized by sequential monomer addition. Further studies were conducted in order to extend this novel method to the anionic polymerization of dienes. © 2018 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2019 , 57, 456–464     

Photoinitiated polymerization of methacrylic monomers in a poly(methyl methacrylate) matrix: A comparative study with other matrices (styrene–butadiene–styrene,polystyrene, and polybutadiene)

The kinetics and mechanism of the photoinitiated polymerization of 1,6‐hexanediol dimethacrylate (HDDMA) in a poly(methyl methacrylate) (PMMA) matrix were studied. The maximum double‐bond conversion, the maximum polymerization rate, the intrinsic reactivity, and the kinetic constants for propagation and termination were calculated. For this system, a reaction‐diffusion termination mechanism occurred from the start of the polymerization, and it was predominantly maintained until high monomer concentrations, probably because of the relatively high intermolecular attraction force between the PMMA matrix and HDDMA monomer. In addition, a comparative study of the photoinitiated polymerization of methacrylic monomers in four different polymeric matrices [styrene–butadiene–styrene (SBS), polystyrene (PS), polybutadiene (PB), and PMMA] was carried out. The aggregation state, vitreous or rubbery, of the monomer–matrix system and the intermolecular strength of attraction in the monomer–matrix system and growing macroradical and matrix systems were the principal factors influencing the kinetic and mechanistic behavior of these systems. When PB and SBS were used as matrices, crosslinked polymerized products were obtained as a result of the participation of double bonds of the matrix in the polymerization process (copolymerization). PS sequences in the SBS and PS matrices also took part in the polymerization process through the coupling of the benzylic radical to the growing macroradical. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 40: 120–127, 2002     

Living cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers with a urethane group

To study the possibility of living cationic polymerization of vinyl ethers with a urethane group, 4‐vinyloxybutyl n‐butylcarbamate ( 1 ) and 4‐vinyloxybutyl phenylcarbamate ( 2 ) were polymerized with the hydrogen chloride/zinc chloride initiating system in methylene chloride solvent at ?30 °C ([monomer]₀ = 0.30 M, [HCl]₀/[ZnCl₂]₀ = 5.0/2.0 mM). The polymerization of 1 was very slow and gave only low‐molecular‐weight polymers with a number‐average molecular weight (M_n) of about 2000 even at 100% monomer conversion. The structural analysis of the products showed occurrence of chain‐transfer reactions because of the urethane group of monomer 1 . In contrast, the polymerization of vinyl ether 2 proceeded much faster than 1 and led to high‐molecular‐weight polymers with narrow molecular weight distributions (MWDs ≤ ～1.2) in quantitative yield. The M_n's of the product polymers increased in direct proportion to monomer conversion and continued to increase linearly after sequential addition of a fresh monomer feed to the almost completely polymerized reaction mixture, whereas the MWDs of the polymers remained narrow. These results indicated the formation of living polymer from vinyl ether 2 . The difference of living nature between monomers 1 and 2 was attributable to the difference of the electron‐withdrawing power of the carbamate substituents, namely, n‐butyl for 1 versus phenyl for 2 , of the monomers. © 2004 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 2960–2972, 2004     

Photoinitiated polymerization of methacrylic monomers in a polybutadiene matrix (PB): Kinetic,mechanistic, and structural aspects

The kinetics and mechanism of the photoinitiated polymerization of tetrafunctional and difunctional methacrylic monomers [1,6‐hexanediol dimethacylate (HDDMA) and 2‐ethylhexyl methacrylate (EHMA)] in a polybutadiene matrix (PB) have been studied. The maximum double‐bond conversion, the maximum polymerization rate, the intrinsic reactivity, and the kinetic constants for propagation and termination have been calculated. Unlike the behavior followed by the SBS‐HDDMA and PS‐HDDMA systems, where a reaction‐diffusion mechanism occurs from the start of the polymerization at low monomer concentrations (<30–40%), in the PB‐HDDMA system the reaction diffusion controls the termination process only after approximately 10% conversion is reached, as for the bulk polymerization of polyfunctional methacrylic monomers. Before reaching 10% conversion the behavior observed can be better explained by a combination of segmental diffusion‐controlled (autoaccelerated) and reaction‐diffusion mechanisms. This is probably a consequence of the lower force of attraction between the monomer and the matrix and between the growing macroradical and the matrix than those corresponding to the other systems mentioned. For the PB‐EHMA system, the termination mechanism is principally diffusion‐controlled from the beginning of the polymerization for monomer concentrations below 30–40%, and for higher monomer concentrations, a standard termination mechanism takes place (k_t ≈ 10⁶) at low double‐bond conversions, which is diffusion‐controlled for high conversions (>40%). For PB‐HDDMA and PB‐EHMA systems, crosslinked polymerized products are obtained as a result of the participation of the double bonds of the matrix in the polymerization process. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 39: 2444–2453, 2001     

Vinyl polymerization. 416. Polymerization of vinyl monomer initiated by polyethyleneglycol

The polymerization of vinyl monomer initiated by polyethyleneglycol (PEG) in aqueous solution was carried out at 85°C with shaking. Acrylonitrile (AN), methyl methacrylate (MMA), and methacrylic acid were polymerized by PEG–300 (M?_n = 300), whereas styrene was not. The effects of the amounts of monomer and PEG, the molecular weight of PEG, and the hydrophobic group at the end of PEG molecule on the polymerization were studied. The selectivity of vinyl monomer and the effect of the hydrophobic group are discussed according to “the concept of hard and soft hydrophobic areas and monomers.” The kinetics of the polymerization was investigated. The overall activation energy in the polymerization of AN was estimated as 37.9 kJ mol^?1. The polymerization was effected by a radical mechanism.     

Alkoxyamine‐mediated “living” radical polymerization: MS investigation of the early stages of styrene polymerization initiated by cumyl‐TEISO

A new series of 1,1,3,3‐tetraethylisoindoline‐2‐oxyl (TEISO)‐based alkoxyamines was prepared. The half‐lives for thermal dissociation indicated that the most sterically congested cumyl‐TEISO alkoxymine had the greatest potential as an initiator for the polymerization of monomers at lower temperatures. The polymerization of styrene at 110 °C gave a linear evolution of M_n with conversion in the early stages. Further evidence for the “living” nature was given by the polydispersities of the polymers that remained low (M_w/M_n = 1.13–1.27) throughout the polymerization (up to 80% conversion). No polymer was formed for the styrene system in a reasonable time below 100 °C. High‐performance liquid chromatographic/mass spectrometric investigations of the distribution of trapped oligomers containing one to nine monomer units formed at 60 °C revealed that the trapping of oligomeric cumyl–styryl radicals by TEISO is irreversible at this temperature. Methyl methacrylate polymerized with cumyl‐TEISO at 60–70 °C, although the initial high rates of polymerization soon decreased to zero at low conversions (10–15%), and the high polydispersities (M_w/M_n = 1.42–1.73) indicated significant side reactions. © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Polym Sci A: Polym Chem 39: 1232–1241, 2001     

Photopolymerization of poly(ethylene glycol) dimethacrylates: The influence of ionic liquids on the formulation and the properties of the resultant polymer materials

The photo‐initiated polymerization of poly(ethylene glycol)dimethacrylates [PEGDM(n)] in the presence of various ionic liquids (ILs) is reported. The influence of ILs concentrations as well as of their nature upon the photopolymerization kinetics was studied in detail. It was found that according to reactive ability in bulk and in solution photopolymerization, the investigated monomers can be divided into two groups: PEGDM(1)–PEGDM(2)–PEGDM(3) and PEGDM(4)–PEGDM(7‐8). ILs slightly influence the photopolymerization of monomers from the first group and greatly change kinetics of those from the second. Such behavior was explained by the theory of “kinetically favorable or unfavorable monomer associations.” It was demonstrated that certain ILs accelerate the photopolymerization of the highest PEGDMs and offer access to the polymers derived from low reactive monomers. Relying on the obtained data, the attempt to predict the structure of the “best” ionic additive for the given monomer photopolymerization was performed and proved. Finally, the influence of both residual and specially added ILs quantities upon the properties of obtained polymer materials was investigated. It was revealed that ILs can physically interact with polymer networks increasing their thermal stability, plasticizing films, and blocks, imparting ionic conductivity equal up to 3.62 × 10^?3 Sm/cm at 25 °C. © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 2388–2409, 2010     

Vinyl polymerization. 413. Polymerization of vinyl monomer initiated by poly(vinylbenzyltrimethyl)-ammonium chloride

The polymerization of vinyl monomer initiated by an aqueous solution of poly(vinylbenzyltrimethyl)ammonium chloride (Q-PVBACI) was carried out at 85°C. Styrene, p-chlorostyrene, methyl methacrylate, and i-butyl methacrylate were polymerized, whereas acrylonitrile and vinyl acetate were not. The effects of the amounts of vinyl monomer, Q-PVBACI, and water on the conversion of vinyl monomer were studied. The overall activation energy in the polymerization of styrene was estimated as 79.1 kJ mol^?1. The polymerization proceeded through a radical mechanism. The selectivity of vinyl monomer was discussed by “a concept of hard and soft hydrophobic areas and monomers.”     

Synthesis of poly(vinylidene fluoride)‐b‐poly(styrene sulfonate) block copolymers by controlled radical polymerizations

Block copolymers based on poly(vinylidene fluoride), PVDF, and a series of poly(aromatic sulfonate) sequences were synthesized from controlled radical polymerizations (CRPs). According to the aromatic monomers, appropriate techniques of CRP were chosen: either iodine transfer polymerization (ITP) or atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) from PVDF‐I macromolecular chain transfer agents (CTAs) or PVDF‐CCl₃ macroinitiator, respectively. These precursors were produced either by ITP of VDF with C₆F₁₃I or by radical telomerization of VDF with chloroform, respectively. Poly(vinylidene fluoride)‐b‐poly(sodium styrene sulfonate), PVDF‐b‐PSSS, block copolymers were produced from both techniques via a direct polymerization of sodium styrene sulfonate (SSS) monomer or an indirect way with the use of styrene sulfonate ethyl ester (SSE) as a protected monomer. Although the reaction led to block copolymers, the kinetics of ITP of SSS showed that PVDF‐I macromolecular CTAs were not totally efficient because a limitation of the CTA consumption (56%) was observed. This was probably explained by both the low activity of the CTA (that contained inefficient PVDF‐CF₂CH₂? I) and a fast propagation rate of the monomer. That behavior was also noted in the ITP of SSE. On the other hand, ATRP of SSS initiated by PVDF‐CCl₃ was more controlled up to 50% of conversion leading to PVDF‐b‐PSSS block copolymer with an average number molar mass of 6000 g·mol^?1. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011     

Influence of monomer type on miniemulsion polymerization systems stabilized by graphene oxide as sole surfactant

Based on a recent report [J. Polym. Sci. Part A. Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 47–58] whereby we demonstrated the synthesis of polystyrene nanoparticles by miniemulsion polymerization stabilized by graphene oxide (GO) nanosheets as sole surfactant, we hereby report the synthesis of hybrid polymer nanoparticles of several members of the (meth)acrylate family as well as the cross‐linker divinylbenzene via the same approach. The nature of the resultant emulsion is strongly linked to the polarity of the monomer used; monomers with a relatively small polar component (based on Hansen solubility parameters) such as lauryl methacrylate and benzyl methacrylate, in addition to styrene, generate stable emulsions that can be effectively polymerized. Particularly polar monomers (e.g., methyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate) formed kinetically stable emulsions in the presence of GO, however rapid coagulation occurred during polymerization. Electron microscopy analysis reveals the formation of polymer nanoparticles with size distribution between 200 and 1000 nm with roughened surface morphologies, indicative of GO sheets adsorbed at the interface. The results of this work demonstrate the applicability of this synthetic route for specific monomers in the preparation of novel graphene‐based polymeric materials. © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2013 , 51, 5153–5162     

Quinone transfer radical polymerization (QTRP) of styrene: Catalysis by different metal complexes

Styrene has been polymerized by a Quinone Transfer Radical Polymerization (QTRP) based on the redox reaction of an ortho‐quinone and a metal catalyst. Several metal acetylacetonates have been tested in this work. The radical polymerization of styrene is largely controlled when phenanthrenequinone (PhQ) is used with catalytic amounts of Co(acac)₂, Ni(acac)₂, Mn(acac)_{2 or 3}, and Al(acac)₃. As a rule, in the presence of all these metallic complexes, the polystyrene molar mass increases with the monomer conversion, and polydispersity (M_w/M_n) is in the 1.3–1.6 range (at least until 40% monomer conversion). Styrene polymerization has also been resumed by polystyrene chains prepared by QTRP. In the specific case of manganese acetylacetonates, an amine or phosphine ligand has to be added for the control to be effective. Finally, two mechanistic hypotheses have been proposed, depending on whether the oxidation state of the metal can be easily changed or not. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 43: 2723‐2733, 2005     

Controlled radical polymerization of 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate initiated by photofunctional 2‐(N,N‐diethyldithiocarbamyl)isobutyric acid

We demonstrated that density functional theory calculations provide a reliable and quantitative prediction of the trends in C? S bond dissociation energies using several model compounds as photoinitiator. On the basis of this information, we designed a possible photofunctional initiator for the polymerization of hydrophilic vinyl monomers. Photopolymerization of 2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate (HEMA) hydrophilic monomer was carried out in ethanol initiated by 2‐(N,N‐diethyldithiocarbamyl)isobutyric acid (DTCA) under UV irradiation. We performed the first‐order time‐conversion plots in this polymerization system, and the straight line in the semilogarithmic coordinates indicated first order in monomer. The molecular weight of the poly(2‐hydroxyethyl methacrylate) (PHEMA) increased with increasing conversion. The molecular weight distribution (M_w/M_n) of the PHEMA was about 1.5. Methyl methacrylate (MMA) could also be polymerized in a living fashion with such a PHEMA precursor as a macroinitiator because PHEMA exhibited a dithiocarbamate (DC) group at its terminal end. This system could be applied to the architecture of amphiphilic block copolymers. It was concluded that these polymerization systems proceeded with controlled radical mechanism. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 42: 76–82, 2004     

Gel forming waterborne dispersion polymerization of sodium p‐styrene sulfonate with glycidyl methacrylate

Water soluble monomer like sodium p‐styrene sulfonate (SSS) is copolymerized with hydrophobic and reactive monomer glycidyl methacrylate (GMA). The polymerization proceeds as dispersion and forms gels. The gel forming nature prevails even with other hydrophobic and hydrophilic monomers to form ternary polymeric systems. The swelling is dependent on polymer composition as well as the treatment history of polymers. SSS also induces ring opening of GMA to form 1,2‐diols as confirmed independently by various model reactions. The ability of hydrogels to absorb various dyes indicates that owing to the anionic nature, hydrogels absorb cationic dyes nearly quantitatively. Because of their strong affinity to cationic species these hydrogel forming polymers are potentially useful in water purification applications as well as purification of proteins. © 2017 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2018 , 56, 626–634     

Semicontinuous heterophase copolymerization of styrene and acrylonitrile

The synthesis of styrene‐acrylonitrile copolymers by semicontinuous heterophase polymerization is reported here. The effect of feed composition at a fixed addition rate of monomer mixture on kinetics, particle size, polymer content, and molar masses, was studied. This process permits the synthesis of nanolatexes containing narrow size‐distribution particles with number‐average diameter (D_n) of about 18 nm, polymer content as high as 23 wt %, and copolymer‐to‐surfactant weight ratios between 23 and 25, depending on monomer feeding rate, which are larger than those reported for microemulsion copolymerization of several comonomers. Copolymers with homogeneous composition similar to the feeding monomers composition were obtained thorough the reaction, which is difficult to achieve by batch polymerization. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2012     

Preparation and characterization of solution processable phthalocyanine‐containing polymers via a combination of RAFT polymerization and post‐polymerization modification techniques

In this work, a benzenedinitrile functionalized monomer, 2‐methyl‐acrylic acid 6‐(3,4‐dicyano‐phenoxy)‐hexyl ester, was successfully polymerized via the reversible addition‐fragmentation chain transfer method. The polymerization behavior conveyed the characteristics of “living”/controlled radical polymerization: the first‐order kinetics, linear increase of number‐average molecular weight with monomer conversion, narrow molecular weight distribution, and successful chain‐extension experiment. The soluble Zn(II) phthalocyanine (Pc)‐containing (ZnPc) polymers were achieved by post‐polymerization modification of the obtained polymers. The Zn(II) phthalocyanine‐functionalized polymer was characterized by FTIR, UV–vis, fluorescence, atomic absorption spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis. The potential application of above ZnPc‐functionalized polymer as electron donor material in bulk heterojunction organic solar cell was studied. The device with ITO/PEDOT:PSS/ZnPc‐Polymer/PC₆₁BM/LiF/Al structure provided a power conversion efficiency of 0.014%, fill factor of 0.24, open circuit voltage (V_oc) of 0.21 V, and short‐circuit current (J_sc) of 0.28 mA/cm². © 2013 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2014 , 52, 691–698