Synthesis, photophysical properties and electrochemical polymerization of a new blue fluorescent compound based on 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene moiety

Abstract

New monomer, 4,4'-[(2,3-dihydrothieno[3,4-b][1,4]diorin-5-yl)vinyl]-1,1'-biphenyl (BPE), was synthesized, characterized and polymerized electrochemically via a potentiostatic method. The corresponding polymer poly(4,4'-[(2,3-dihydrothieno[3,4-b][1,4] diorin-5-yl)vinyl]-1,1'-biphenyl) (PBPE) obtained as a thin-layer film, was characterized by cyclic voltammetry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy levels of the obtained polymer were determined from cyclic voltammograms as-4.89 eV and-3.81 eV, respectively. Its optical and electrochemical band gaps were calculated, and found to be 1.08 eV and 1.49 eV, respectively. PBPE can be used as a donor material in bilayer organic photovoltaic solar cells having PCBM as acceptor material.