Poly(carbazole)‐Based Copolymers Containing Deep‐Blue Chromophore for Polymer Light‐Emitting Diode Applications

A new series of two poly(carbazole)‐based copolymers (poly(9‐hexyl‐carbazole‐co‐9‐(6‐(3‐(4‐phenylquinolin‐2‐yl)carbazol‐9‐yl)hexyl)carbazole) (PCVz) and poly(9,9‐dioctylfluorene‐co‐9‐(6‐(3‐(4‐phenylquinolin‐2‐yl)carbazol‐9‐yl)hexyl)carbazole) (PFCVz)) containing carbazoylphenylquinoline pendant groups were synthesized via the Suzuki coupling reaction for polymer light‐emitting diode applications. The electro‐optical properties of ITO/PEDOT/Polymer/PBD/LiF/Al devices based on these copolymers were investigated using UV‐visible, photoluminescence, and electroluminescence spectroscopy. The turn‐on voltages of the copolymer devices were found to be 6.0–8.0 V. The maximum brightness and luminescence efficiency of the copolymers device were found to be 230 cd · m^?2 and 0.28 cd · A^?1 at 11 V, respectively.

     

Blue Light Emission from a Fluorene‐Carbazole‐Fluorene Trimer Incorporated as the Side Chain into a Polynorbornene

Summary: A well defined blue electroluminescent fluorene‐carbazol‐fluorene trimer 3,6‐bis‐(9,9‐dihexyl‐9H‐fluoren‐3‐yl)‐9‐alkyl‐9H‐carbazole was synthesized using a Suzuki type cross coupling reaction as the key step. A way to attach this chromophore to a norbornene was developed and the resulting electroactive monomer was polymerised using the “3^rd generation Grubbs catalyst” (N,N‐bis(mesityl) 4,5‐dihydroimidazol‐2‐ylidene)(3‐bromo‐pyridine)₂(Cl)₂Ru?CHPh), yielding an amorphous polymer with a narrow molecular weight distribution, which was used to build a light‐emitting diode exhibiting electroluminescence peaking at 410 nm.

Incorporation of the fluorene‐carbazol‐fluorene trimer as the emissive layer in an ITO/PEDOT:PSS/emitter/Ca/Al light emitting device.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Red‐Emitting Poly(aryleneethynylene)s Based on 2,5‐Bis(2‐ethylhexyl)‐3,6‐di(thiophen‐2‐yl)pyrrolo[3,4‐c]pyrrole‐1,4(2H,5H)‐dione (DPP)

Synthesis and characterization of a series of PAEs containing DPP units in the main chain are described. of the polymers was in the range 10 800–111 900. The polymers formed a deep blue solution in chloroform with absorption maxima between 589 and 645 nm and optical band gaps ranging from 1.61 to 1.74 eV. When excited at the absorption maxima, the polymer solutions showed red fluorescence with emission maxima between 656 and 676 nm. The polymers exhibited quasi‐reversible oxidation process with HOMO energy levels between ?5.60 and ?6.17 eV. EL properties of three polymers were investigated with device configuration ITO/PEDOT:PSS/Polymer/LiF/Al. When appropriate bias voltage was applied, a red EL with a maximum brightness of 17.5–24 cd · m^?2 could observe from the devices.

     

New Organo‐Soluble Conjugated Polyquinolines

Polyquinolines are under discussion as n‐type materials for organic field effect transistors, organic light‐emitting diodes and organic solar cells together with other N‐heterocycle‐containing conjugated polymers. But most of these conjugated polyquinolines are not soluble in common organic solvents. Therefore, a new synthetic pathway is presented in this work leading to organo‐soluble polyquinolines. The results of the synthesis and characterization of the obtained new organo‐soluble polyquinolines are shown. The electrochemical reduction and oxidation behavior of these polymers is studied by cyclovoltammetric measurements. All studied polymers can be reversibly oxidized and reduced. The absorption and luminescence properties are investigated. Organic light‐emitting diodes (OLEDs) are prepared from the new polyquinolines as an active single layer. The electroluminescence behavior and the characteristics of the OLEDs are discussed.

Electroluminescence spectra of the LEDs with polymers 8a – c as emissive layers.     

Synthesis of New Blue Anthracene‐based Conjugated Polymers and Their Applications in Polymer Light‐Emitting Diodes

A series of anthracene‐based conjugated copolymers containing 9,10‐bis(6‐bromonaphthalen‐2‐yl)‐2‐tert‐butylanthracene (BNA) and 2,7‐diphenyl substituted fluorene (DPPF) moieties are prepared via a palladium‐catalyzed Suzuki polymerization. All of the synthesized polymers emit blue light at around 450 nm and show good thermal and color stability. Their electroluminescence spectra remain unchanged at high driving voltage. The double‐layer polymer light‐emitting diode (PLED) fabricated with ITO/PEDOT:PSS/DPPFBNA3/CsF/Al, produces a maximum brightness of 1 650 cd · m^?2 and has a luminance efficiency of 0.39 cd · A^?1. The ITO/PEDOT:PSS/TFB/DPPFBNA3/CsF/Al multilayer PLED, incorporating a TFB layer to facilitate hole transportation, produces a maximum brightness of 5 371 cd · m^?2 and a luminance efficiency of 1.18 cd · A^?1.

     

New Carbazole‐Based Copolymers as Amorphous Hole‐Transporting Materials for Multilayer Light‐Emitting Diodes

New carbazole‐based copolymers, which contain various concentrations of 9‐alkyl‐3,6‐carbazole fragments in the main chain connected via alkylene spacers, have been synthesized by Ni(0)‐catalyzed Yamamoto‐type aryl‐aryl coupling reactions. Full characterization of the copolymer structure by NMR spectroscopy and elemental analysis is presented. These compounds represent amorphous materials of high thermal stability with glass transition temperatures of 151–162 °C and thermal decomposition starting at temperatures >390 °C. UV‐Vis absorption and photoluminescence emission of the copolymers confirmed that the effectively conjugated segment in the 3,6‐linked carbazole‐type copolymers is limited to dyads (dimeric units). However, copolymers with varying concentrations of the oligocarbazole chromophores demonstrate different charge injection and transport properties in multilayer light‐emitting diodes with the copolymers as the hole transport and Alq₃ as the electroluminescent/electron transport layer. The device based on a copolymer composed of oligocarbazole blocks with an average length of around four carbazoles exhibited the best overall performance with a turn‐on voltage of 3.5 V, a maximal photometric efficiency of 4.1 cd · A^?1 and maximum brightness of about 4 200 cd · m^?2.

     

Novel Supramolecular Polymers Based on Zinc‐Salen Chromophores for Efficient Light‐Emitting Diodes

Summary: A novel series of supramolecular polymers based on zinc‐salen chromophores were readily prepared via ligand‐metal coordination. These polymers were characterized by FT‐IR, NMR, GPC and elemental analysis. All the polymers were readily soluble in common organic solvents and had substantially good thermal properties. Cyclic voltammetry revealed they had LUMO energy levels ranging from −3.20 to −3.23 eV and HOMO energy levels ranging from −6.13 to −6.15 eV. The polymer films can emit strong green photoluminescence (PL) with relatively high quantum efficiencies of 42–51%. Light‐emitting diodes with the configuration ITO/PEDOT/polymer/BCP/Alq₃/LiF/Al were efficient green emitters, with maximum current efficiencies of 0.9–2.3 cd · A⁻¹. The preliminary EL results thus suggest that these polymers are potential candidates for efficient green emission in polymer LEDs.

Structures of polymers produced.     

Microwave‐Assisted Synthesis of Poly(L‐lactic acid) via Direct Melt Polycondensation Using Solid Super‐Acids

A microwave‐assisted method of synthesizing high‐molecular‐weight PLA using SSA as green catalyst was developed. Yellowish PLA with above 2.0 × 10⁴ g · mol^?1 was obtained when the reaction was run at 260 °C within 60 min under microwave irradiation with 0.4 wt.‐% SSA. This method used only 10% of the energy consumption necessary for conventional heating, and the catalyst could be used five times without losing catalytic activity. The improvement in and the decrease in the energy consumption under microwave irradiation suggested that selective heating and hot spots effects played a crucial role. The method was shown to be a time‐saving, green and a promising way to lower the cost and spread the application of PLA.

     

Synthesis and Electroluminescent Properties of Disubstituted Polyacetylene Derivatives Containing Multi‐Fluorophenyl and Cyclohexylphenyl Side Groups

A new series of disubstituted polyacetylene derivatives that contain multi‐fluorine atoms on the pendent phenyl ring have been synthesized and characterized. The results reveal a greater red‐shift in UV‐vis absorption and PL emission upon incorporating more fluorine atoms on the pendent phenyl ring. Among them, disubstituted polyacetylene with a difluorophenyl group ( PDPA‐2F ) showed the highest luminescent efficiency. The device performance can be promoted by blending a hole‐transporting material TM‐TPD into PDPA‐2F as the active layer or by using a light‐emitting copolymer in which PDPA‐2F was copolymerized with a carbazole group ( PDPA‐2Fcab ). A light‐emitting diode of ITO/PEDOT/ PDPA‐2Fcab /Ca/Al revealed a maximum luminescence of 4230 cd · m^?2 at 14 V and a maximum current efficiency of 3.37 cd · A^?1 at 7 V.

     

“Click” Synthesis of a Bipolar Dendrimer as a Host Material for Electrophosphorescent Devices

A new solution‐processable bipolar dendrimer with carbazole units as hole‐transporting units and oxadiazole units as electron‐transporting units was efficiently synthesized based on a convergent approach by alternation of a Cu‐catalyzed azide/alkyne cycloaddition reaction and Williamson ether synthesis. The orthogonal chemistry completely avoided protection and activation of the focal points in the process of dendrimer synthesis. The dendrimer showed a wide bandgap and good thermal stability. Electrophosphorescent devices with the configuration ITO/PEDOT:PSS/bipolar dendrimer:Ir(ppy)₃/TPBI/LiF/Al were fabricated. The devices showed a maximum current efficiency of 16.8 cd · A^?1, a maximum power efficiency of 4.22 lm · W^?1 and an external quantum efficiency of 5.7%.

     

Metathetic Selective Degradation of Polyisoprene: Low‐Molecular‐Weight Telechelic Oligomer Obtained from Both Synthetic and Natural Rubber

Summary: Degradation studies of cis‐1,4‐polyisoprene were carried out using first and second generation Grubbs catalysts to achieve end‐functionalized acetoxy oligomers in both an organic solvent and a latex phase at room temperature. Well‐defined acetoxy telechelic polyisoprene structures were obtained in a selective manner with a range of from 10 000 to 30 000, with a polydispersity index of around 2.5.

Structure produced by the metathetic depolymerization of hydroxy telechelic cis‐1,4‐polyisoprene.     

Design and Synthesis of Phosphorescent Iridium Containing Dendrimers for Potential Applications in Organic Light‐Emitting Diodes

Three phosphorescent dendrimers ( IrC1 , IrC3 , and IrF2 ) with an iridium complex core and oligocarbazole or oligofluorene substituted ligands were synthesized and characterized. The structures of the oligocarbazole were designed to maintain high triplet energy of the ligands so that phosphorescence quenching in the resulting dendrimers can be prevented, while the oligofluorene in IrF2 resulted in undesired phosphorescence quenching. Best performance was obtained from an IrC3 based electrophosphorescent light‐emitting device with a maximum luminance of 13 060 cd · m^?2 at a driving voltage of 11.5 V and a peak current‐efficiency of 4.3 cd · A^?1 at a luminance of 3 400 cd · m^?2, owing to its high PL efficiency, and efficient energy transfer between the iridium complex core and the ligands.

     

Synthesis and self‐assembly of polymers containing dicarboximide groups by living ring‐opening metathesis polymerization

Polymers with narrow molecular weight distributions and controlled architectures were generated by living ring‐opening metathesis polymerization of exo‐7‐oxabicyclo[2.2.1]hept‐5‐ene‐2,3‐dicarboximide. The dicarboximide units have been previously shown to exhibit biological activity, can selectively bind to the nucleic acid base adenine by hydrogen‐bonding, and are readily functionalizable. Block copolymers containing these moieties were generated, and underwent self‐assembly into nanoscale spherical aggregates, with surface localized molecular recognition motifs.

     

Conjugated Silole and Carbazole Copolymers: Synthesis,Characterization, Single‐Layer Light‐Emitting Diode,and Field Effect Carrier Mobility

Summary: Soluble conjugated random and alternating copolymers (PCz‐PSP) derived from N‐hexyl‐3,6‐carbazole (Cz) and 1,1‐dimethyl‐2,3,4,5‐tetraphenylsilole (PSP) were synthesized by palladium(0)‐catalyzed Suzuki coupling reactions. The feed ratios of Cz to PSP were 95:5, 90:10, 80:20, 70:30, and 50:50. Chemical structures and optoelectronic properties of the copolymers were characterized by ¹H NMR, ¹³C NMR, UV absorption, cyclic voltammetry, photoluminescence, electroluminescence, and field effect transistor. HOMO levels of the copolymers are between −5.15 and −5.34 eV. Single‐layer devices with a configuration of ITO/copolymer/Ba/Al were fabricated and the copolymer with PSP content of 20% displayed the highest external quantum efficiency of 0.77%. Field effect transistors with tantalum pentoxide‐polyacrylonitrile double insulators demonstrated that hole mobilities of the copolymers decreased with their PSP contents, and the hole mobility up to 9.3 × 10⁻⁶ cm² · (V · s)⁻¹ could be achieved.

Synthesis of coplymers derived from 3,6‐carbazole and silole.     

Synthesis and Characterization of Oxetane‐Functionalized Phosphorescent Ir(III)‐Complexes

In order to incorporate iridium(III) complexes covalently into an oxetane‐bearing hole‐transporting matrix, a new oxetane‐equipped acetoacetate derivative was introduced as an ancillary ligand. Model complexes with an analogical nonpolymerizable ligand were also prepared in order to perform comparative investigations. Therefore, a series of bis‐cyclometalated Ir(III) complexes, showing orange (C?N‐ligand, coumarin 6) and green (C?N‐ligand, phenylpyridine) emission were synthesized and fully characterized. The emission maxima are 569 nm for the orange and 518 nm for the green‐emitting Ir(III) complexes. Entirely solution processed devices, based on crosslinkable hole‐conductors, partially doped with the described orange and green Ir(III) emitters, respectively, were fabricated and tested.

     

Synthesis and Hole‐Transporting Property of a Novel Poly(N‐vinylcarbazole) Copolymer with Metal‐Coordination Sites

Summary: Hole transporting poly(N‐vinylcarbazole) copolymers with phenylazomethine dendron units acting as metal ligation sites were synthesized. These polymers possess both hole‐transport and metal‐collecting units with simple σ‐bond linkages. Complexation in the phenylazomethine dendron unit within these copolymers by SnCl₂ has been successfully observed by the change in the UV‐vis spectra. The complexation changes the HOMO/LUMO energy gap that results in a spectral red‐shift. Using copolymers as a hole‐transport layer, only complexation with metal ions leads to an enhanced maximum luminescence. Such a complexation results in a high electroluminescence efficiency because the p‐type‐doped structure acts as the hole‐transport layer.

Copolymerization for the preparation of DPAGn(x)‐Cbz(y).     

Preparation and Characterisation of Hydrophobically Modified Hydroxypropylcellulose: Side‐Chain Crystallisation

Summary: Hydroxypropylcellulose has been hydrophobically modified by reaction with different amounts of palmitoyl chloride. When the degree of substitution is sufficiently high, the side chains are able to produce lateral crystallisation, which has been analysed by DSC and diffraction experiments, using both conventional and synchrotron radiation. The melting temperatures and enthalpies depend on the degree of substitution, in such a way that it is relatively easy to get melting temperatures close to that of the human body, although a rather wide melting region is obtained.

X‐ray diffractograms of the original HPC sample and of the modified specimens.     

The Effect of PEG Crystallization on the Morphology of PEG/Peptide Block Copolymers Containing Amyloid β‐Peptide Fragments

Ordered nanostructures are observed in the melt and solid state for a series of three peptide/PEG conjugates containing fragments of amyloid β‐peptides. These are conjugated to PEG with = 3 300 g · mol^?1 and a melting temperature T_m = 45–50 °C. The morphology at room temperature is examined by AFM and POM. This shows spherulite formation for the weakly fibrillizing KLVFF‐PEG sample but fibril formation for FFKLVFF‐PEG. The fibrillization tendency of the latter is enhanced by multiple phenylalanine residues. Simultaneous SAXS and WAXS was used to investigate the morphology as a function of temperature. The secondary structure is probed by FTIR.

     

Optimization of Photorefractivity Based on Poly(N‐vinylcarbazole) Composites: An Approach from the Perspectives of Chemistry and Physics

The optimization of photorefractivity (PR) based on a poly(N‐vinylcarbazole) (PVCz) composite devise is proposed from the perspectives of chemistry and physics. The device's PR chemistry (dependence of PVCz's molecular weight) and physics (dependence of grating periodicity and laser wavelength) are studied. Increasing the molecular weight of PVCz from 23 000 to 1 270 000 g mol^?1 significantly increases diffraction efficiency, grating build‐up speed (inverse of response time), and sensitivity. Narrowing grating period from 5.1 to 1.1 μm gives faster response time and larger optical gain. Shorter wavelength of writing laser from 633 to 532 nm provides higher diffraction efficiency, faster response time, and larger optical gain.

     

Highly Air‐Stable Thieno[3,2‐b]thiophene‐Thiophene‐Thiazolo[5,4‐d]thiazole‐Based Polymers for Light‐Emitting Diodes

A series of highly air‐stable, low‐bandgap poly(3‐alkylthiophene)s containing electron‐rich thieno[3,2‐b]thiophene and electron‐deficient thiazolo[5,4‐d]thiazole rings were synthesized by the Stille coupling reaction. The polymers exhibited good thermal stability and solubility with excellent film forming properties when drop‐ or spin‐cast from solution. A strong absorption at 564–568 nm and a shoulder at 614–616 nm were observed. The optical bandgap of the polymers was found to be 1.82–1.85 eV. The IP of the polymers was found to be 5.62–5.65 eV. All polymers showed strong fluorescent emission both in solution and in the solid state. EL devices were fabricated using the polymers as an emissive layer and red emission was observed with the emission range of 649–679 nm.