Characterization, liquid crystalline behavior, electrochemical and optoelectrical properties of new poly(azomethine)s and a poly(imide) with siloxane linkages

Abstract

New siloxane-containing poly(azomethine)s and a six-membered poly(imide) have been developed from siloxane-containing diamine with four different dialdehydes and 3,4,9,10-perylenetetracarboxylic dianhydride, and their thermotropic behavior, optoelectrical and electrochemical properties were examined. Mesomorphic behavior of the polymers was investigated via differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), polarizing optical microscopy (POM) and X-ray diffraction (WAXRD, SAXRD) studies. The electrochemical behavior of poly(azomethine)s and poly(imide) was studied by differential pulse voltammetry (DPV). The HOMO levels of these polymers were in the range of −5.13 to −5.90 eV. UV–vis properties of the polymers were investigated in solid state as thin films and in chloroform solution. Optical energy band gap ( E g opt. ) was calculated from absorption spectra and absorption coefficients α. The photoluminescence properties (PL) of obtained polymers were studied in chloroform solution. The investigated poly(azomethine)s emitted blue light, while the poly(imide) emitted green light. The polymers were irradiated with a test dose of 1 Gy Co-60 gamma-rays to detect their thermoluminescence properties in the temperature range of 50–200 °C. Polymer monolayer (ITO/polymer/Al) and bulk heterojunction (BHJ) (ITO/polymer:PCBM/Al and ITO/PEDOT:PSS/polymer:PCBM/Al) devices were prepared with PAZ and PI used as active layers and I– U curves were measured in the dark and during irradiation with light (under illumination of 1000 W/m 2). Poly(azomethine)s were blended with [6,6]-phenyl C 61 butyric acid methyl ester (PCBM). Selected properties of the investigated polymers with siloxane linkages were compared with the polymers ( PAZ1a– PAZ3a, PIa) prepared from the same dialdehydes or dianhydride and poly(1,4-butanediol)bis(4-aminobenzoate).