Synthesis and characterization of luminescent and hole transporting rod-coil polymers

Abstract

Luminescent cyano-substituted distyrylbenzene derivatives were synthesized via Knoevenagel condensation reactions. By using these compounds as initiators, a series of rod-coil polymers were synthesized by the atom transfer radical polymerization of methacrylate containing hole transporting carbazole moiety in high yields except the initiator with dicyanovinyl end groups. Molecular weight up to 37000 and polydispersity indices not exceeding 1.6 were obtained. Photoluminescent spectra revealed the aggregation of the rod parts in the solid state. The rod parts containing fluorinated alkyl groups were further aggregated by the heat treatment. The contact angle measurements suggested the fluoro alkyl groups dominated the film surface in the aggregation process. Microporous films with the open pore diameter of 1.1 or 3.7 μm were fabricated by casting the polymer solution under a moist air flow. Transmission spectrum showed the dip originated from the periodic arrangement of micropores.