Synthesis and characterization of new anthracene‐based semiconducting polyethers

Abstract

Abstract New anthracene‐based polyethers, anthracene/bisphenol A (An–BPA) and anthracene/fluorinated bisphenol A (An–BPAF), were synthesized and characterized. An–BPA and An–BPAF were fully soluble in common organic solvents and had number‐average molecular weights of 2580 and 3240, respectively. The optical properties of the polymers were investigated with ultraviolet–visible absorption and photoluminescence spectroscopy. Blue photoluminescence was observed in dilute solutions. In solid thin films, π–π interactions influenced the optical properties, and redshifted photoluminescence spectra were obtained; a green emission (504 nm) for An–BPAF and a green‐yellow emission (563 nm) for An–BPA were found. By cyclic voltammetry, the electrochemical band gap was estimated to be 2.72 and 3.05 eV for An–BPA and An–BPAF, respectively. Single‐layer diode devices of an indium tin oxide/polyether/aluminum configuration were fabricated and showed relatively low turn‐on voltages (3.5 V for An–BPA and 3.7 V for An–BPAF). © 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2011