Aromatic Copolyimides Containing Perylene Units

Perylene-containing copolyimides have been synthesized by one-step polycondensation reaction under high temperature of two different aromatic diamines with a mixture of perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (PTCDA) and 4,4'-hexafluoroisopropylidene diphthalic anhydride (6FDA). The copolyimides were soluble in polar amidic solvents and their solutions gave flexible thin films when spread onto glass plates. Very thin films obtained by spin coating had smooth surfaces and were self-organized into vertically segregated structures. The polymers were highly thermostable, their decompositions being above 470 °C and displayed reasonable high glass transition temperature values. After being excited with UV light, the polymers emitted light in the bluish and green-yellow domains.