Synthesis and aggregation behavior of poly(5‐alkyl‐2,3‐thiophene)‐based diblock copolymers

Abstract

AbstractDespite impressive advances achieved in poly(3‐alkylthiophene)s (P3ATs) and P3AT‐based block copolymers (BCPs), the investigation into their ortho‐connected systems, poly(5‐alkylthiophene)s (P5ATs) and P5AT‐based BCPs is rather limited. Moreover, the aggregation behavior of P5ATs and their BCPs remains largely less understood. Herein, we report, for the first time, the judicious design and synthesis of a family of poly(5‐butylthiophene)‐block‐poly(5‐hexylthiophene) (P5BT‐b‐P5HT) BCPs with adjustable block ratios and reveal the effects of block ratios and thermal annealing process on their aggregated structures. Moreover, the optical properties of P5BT‐b‐P5HT BCPs have been investigated, which differs greatly from P3ATs. Overall, this work offers valuable insight into the aggregation and optical properties of P5AT‐based BCPs, strengthening our fundamental understanding of ortho‐connected P5AT systems.