Block copolymer containing poly(3-hexylthiophene) and poly(4-vinylpyridine): Synthesis and its interaction with CdSe quantum dots for hybrid organic applications

• Published in: Journal of polymer science. Part A, Polymer chemistry Polymer chemistry, 2011-04, Vol.49 (8), p.1802-1808
• Main Authors: Palaniappan, Kumaranand, Hundt, Nadia, Sista, Prakash, Nguyen, Hien, Hao, Jing, Bhatt, Mahesh P., Han, Yun-Yue, Schmiedel, Elizabeth A., Sheina, Elena E., Biewer, Michael C., Stefan, Mihaela C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Atomic Force Microscopy (AFM); Blends; Block copolymers; Cadmium selenides; Copolymers; diblock copolymers; Exact sciences and technology; Intermetallics; Organic polymers; Physicochemistry of polymers; poly(3-hexylthiophene); poly(4-vinylpyridine); Polymers with particular properties; Preparation, kinetics, thermodynamics, mechanism and catalysts; Quantum dots; Rafts; Reproduction; reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer (RAFT); semiconducting polymers
• ISSN: 0887-624X; 1099-0518; 1099-0518
• DOI: 10.1002/pola.24605

Poly(3‐hexylthiophene)‐b‐poly(4‐vinylpyridine) diblock copolymer was synthesized by RAFT polymerization of 4‐vinyl pyridine using a trithiocarbonate‐terminated poly(3‐hexylthiophene) macro‐RAFT agent. The optoelectronic properties and the morphology of the block copolymer blends with CdSe quantum dots were investigated. UV‐vis and fluorescence experiments were performed to prove the charge transfer between CdSe and poly(3‐hexylthiophene)‐b‐poly(4‐vinylpyridine) diblock copolymer. © 2011 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem, 2011 A diblock copolymer containing regioregular poly(3‐hexylthiophene) and poly(4‐vinylpyridine) was synthesized by RAFT polymerization. The synthesized diblock copolymer display comparable opto‐electronic properties with the poly(3‐hexylthiophene) precursor. Fluorescence quenching was demonstrated by incremental addition of CdSe quantum dots to poly(3‐hexylthiophene)‐b‐poly(4‐vinylpyridine) indicating an efficient charge transfer between the copolymer donor and CdSe acceptor. The new copolymer shows potential for use in hybrid organic‐inorganic bulk heterojunction solar cells and other organic electronics applications.