Electrochemical fluorescence switching properties of conjugated polymers composed of triphenylamine, fluorene, and cyclic urea moieties

• Published in: Journal of polymer science. Part A, Polymer chemistry Polymer chemistry, 2012-12, Vol.50 (24), p.5068-5078
• Main Authors: Kuo, Cheng-Po, Lin, You-Shiang, Leung, Man-kit
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; conjugated polymers; copolymerization; electrochemistry; Electronics; Exact sciences and technology; fluorescence; Optoelectronic devices; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polymers with particular properties; Preparation, kinetics, thermodynamics, mechanism and catalysts; Semiconductor electronics. Microelectronics. Optoelectronics. Solid state devices
• ISSN: 0887-624X; 1099-0518
• DOI: 10.1002/pola.26354

The study of the electrochemical fluorescence switching properties of the conjugated copolymers containing fluorene, triphenylamine, and 1,3‐diphenylimidazolidin‐2‐one moieties is reported. The polymers show high fluorescence quantum yields, excellent thermal stability, and good solubility in polar organic solvents. While the polymer emits blue light under UV irradiation, the fluorescence intensity is quenched upon electrochemical oxidation. The fluorescent behavior can be reversibly switched between nonfluorescent (oxidized) state and strong fluorescence (neutral) state with a high contrast ratio (If/If0) of 16.3. The role of the electrochemical oxidation of the triphenylamine moieties is to generate the corresponding radical cations that lead to fluorescence quenching in the solid matrix. © 2012 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J. Polym. Sci. Part A: Polym Chem, 2012 The development of a novel polymer for which the fluorescence intensity can be controlled by electrochemical methods is presented. The blue light emitting fluorescent behavior of the polymer could be reversibly switched between the non‐fluorescence (oxidized) state and the strong fluorescence (neutral) state with a high contrast ratio (If/If0) of 16.3. The role of the electrochemical oxidation of the triphenylamine moieties is to generate the corresponding radical cations that lead to fluorescence quenching in the solid matrix.