Structure-property relationships of electroluminescent polythiophenes: Role of nitrogen-based heterocycles as side chains

Abstract

A series of conjugated polythiophenes containing nitrogen-containing heterocycles as side chain, with differing substituent nature and linkage have been studied using quantum-chemical calculations. The optical properties of synthesized polymers were compared with that of model compounds with intricate structural variations. The theoretically predicted optical characteristics are correlated with the experimentally determined parameters. Experimentally determined band gap and absorption maxima found to follow the predicted trends. Single emissive layer polymeric light emitting diodes are fabricated and the structural influence on photo- and electro-emission was studied in detail. The study shows that the nature of side chain substituent such as number/position of nitrogen atoms and mode of linking of side chain plays a crucial role in deciding the geometry which in turn controls the voltage response of the electroluminescence. © Indian Academy of Sciences.