Design of a Linear Poly(3‐hexylthiophene)/Fullerene‐Based Donor‐Acceptor Rod‐Coil Block Copolymer

Abstract

Abstract Novel fullerene‐grafted poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT)‐based rod‐coil block copolymers have been synthesized. The regioregular P3HT rod block has been synthesized by a modified Grignard metathesis reaction (GRIM). An original in situ end‐capping reaction has been developed in order to convert the P3HT block into an efficient macro‐initiator for the nitroxide‐mediated radical polymerization (NMRP) of the coil block. Controlled radical polymerization of the second poly(butylacrylate‐ stat ‐chloromethylstyrene) [P(BA‐ stat ‐CMS)] block has been done through various conditions leading to different coil block lengths. The final electron donor‐acceptor block copolymer has been obtained after C 60 grafting in soft conditions. Copolymers have been characterized by 1 H NMR and size exclusion chromatography. Optical characterizations, before and after C 60 grafting, are reported. magnified image