P4VP and oligo(phenylenevinylene)‐perylenebisimide mixed donor‐acceptor supramolecular comb polymer complexes with improved charge carrier mobility

Random donor‐acceptor (D‐A) supramolecular comb polymers were formed when hydroxyl functionalized donor and acceptor small molecules based on Oligo(phenylenevinylene) (named OPVCN‐OH ) and Perylenebisimide (named UPBI‐PDP ), respectively, were complexed with Poly(4‐vinyl pyridine) (P4VP). A series of random D‐A supramolecular comb polymers were formed by varying the ratios of UPBI‐PDP and OPVCN‐OH with P4VP. A 100% P4VP‐donor polymer complex [ P4VP(OPV_1.00 )] and a 100% P4VP‐acceptor polymer complex [ P4VP(UPBI_1.00 )] were also synthesized and characterized. Complex formation was confirmed by FT‐IR and ¹H NMR spectroscopy. Solid state structural studies carried out using small angle X‐ray scattering and wide angle X‐ray diffraction experiments revealed altered packing of the D and A molecules in the complexes. Transmission electron microscopy images showed lamellar structures in the < 10 nm scale for the P4VP(OPV_1.00 ), P4VP(UPBI_1.00 ), and mixed P4VP (D‐A) complexes. The effect of the nanoscopic D‐A self‐assembly on the bulk mobility of the materials was probed using SCLC measurements. The mixed D‐A random complexes exhibited ambipolar charge transport characteristics with higher values for the average bulk hole mobility estimate. P4VP(OPV_0.25 + UPBI_0.75) exhibited an average hole mobility in the order of 10^?2cm² V^?1 s^?1 and electron mobility 10^?5cm² V^?1 s^?1. © 2016 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 2016 , 54, 2403–2412