Synthesis and Characterization of the Luminescent Poly[2-decyloxy-5-(2′,5′-bis(decyloxy)phenyl)-1,4-phenylenevinylene

Abstract

A new soluble luminescent poly[2-decyloxy-5-(2′,5′-bis(decyloxy)phenyl)-1,4-phenylenevinylene] (DBDP-PPV) is prepared by the dehydrohalogenation of 1,4-bis(bromomethyl)-2-decyloxy-5-(2′,5′-bis(decyloxy)phenyl) benzene (as monomer) in this study. The above monomer bearing decyloxy and 2′,5′-bis(decyloxy)phenyl substituents was prepared via such chemical reactions as alkylation, bromination, and Suzuki coupling reactions. The two asymmetric substituents on the phenylene ring make the DBDP-PPV soluble in organic solvents and eliminate the tolan-bis-benzyl (TBB) structure defects. The structure and properties of the DBDP-PPV are examined by 1H-NMR, FT-IR, UV/Vis, TGA, photoluminescence (PL), and electroluminescence (EL) analyses. The DBDP-PPV film exhibits a PL peak at 519 nm. With the DBDP-PPV acting as a light-emitting polymer, a device is fabricated with a sequential lamination of ITO/PEDOT/DBDP-PPV/Ca/Ag. The EL spectrum of the device shows a maximum emission at 507 nm. The turn on voltage of the device is about 15.6 V. Its maximum brightness is 4.67 cd/m2 at a voltage of 16.8 V.