Patterning Carbazole–Phenylazomethine Dendrimer Films

Abstract

The synthesis of double-layer-type dendrimers with carbazole and phenylazomethine as the dendron with a symmetric tetraphenylmethane core is reported. Structural modeling studies showed that the G3 dendrimer has a rigid and spherical structure. These dendrimers were thermally stable (Td10% over 500 °C) with the TGA-MS study revealing a degradation mechanism occurring first at the inner-layer phenylazomethine group. The metal (Lewis acid) complexation property of these dendrimers was also studied. Electrochemical measurements showed that these dendrimers have the appropriate HOMO level as a hole-transporting material with electropolymerizability on the peripheral carbazole groups. A photo-cross-linking property of the dendrimer film was also observed. Finally, electro-nanopatterning with conducting AFM and photopatterning of the dendrimer film were demonstrated. Thus, the new dendrimer is a potential hole-transporting material that is patternable through oxidation of the peripheral carbazole units by either photochemical or electrochemical methods.