Synthesis, characterization and optical properties of distyrylanthracene-based polymers

Abstract

Distyryl- and nitrodistyrylanthracene-based polymers (P1 and P2, respectively) have been synthesized and characterized. The polymers are fully soluble in common organic solvents and have number-average molecular weights of 18 570 and 23 480 g mol−1 for P1 and P2, respectively. The optical properties of the polymers were investigated by UV-visible absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopies. The optical gaps were estimated from the absorption-onsets of the polymer films; their values were 2.79, 2.75 eV for P1 and P2, respectively. A blue photoluminescence was observed in dilute solution. In solid thin film, Π–Π interactions influence the optical properties, and red-shifted photoluminescence spectra were obtained; a green emission (573 nm) for P1 and an orange one (605 nm) for P2 were observed. The HOMO and LUMO levels were estimated using cyclic voltammetry analysis. Single-layer devices of the indium-tin oxide/polymer/aluminum configuration were fabricated and showed relatively low turn-on voltages (5.14 V for P1 and 5.00 V for P2).