Synthesis and properties of a sterically encumbered poly(thienylene vinylene): poly[E-1,2-(4,4prime-dihexyl-2,2prime-dithienyl)ethylene]
Electrically conducting poly[E-1,2-(4,4prime-dihexyl-2,2prime-dithienyl)ethylene] was synthesized and structurally characterized by UV-visible, 1H NMR, and FTIR spectroscopy. The head-to-head arrangement of the alkylthiophene dyads directly affects the UV-visible, photoluminescence, and electroluminescence maxima of the polymer. The conductivity of the doped polymer was measured to be ~2 S cm-1 and the stability of the oxidized polymer possessing various dopants was compared. UV-visible irradiation of PDHDTE rendered the films insoluble and photolithography was used to produce micron-size images. FTIR was used to monitor the photoproducts during photolysis of PDHDTE. Mechanisms of photooxidation were proposed, based on the photoproducts observed.Key words: polythiophene derivative, head-to-head dyad, photolithography, photooxidation, electroluminescence.