Control of interchain contacts, solid-state fluorescence quantum yield, and charge transport of cationic conjugated polyelectrolytes by choice of anion.
Simple procedures are provided for exchanging charge-compensating ions in conjugated polyelectrolytes by progressive dilution of the original species and for determining the degree of ion exchange by using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. By using these methods, the bromide ions in poly[(9,9-bis(6'-N,N,N-trimethylammoniumbromide)hexyl)fluorene-co-alt-4,7-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole)]were exchanged with BF4-, CF3SO3-, PF6-, BPh4-, and B(3,5-(CF3)2C6H3)4- (BArF4-). Absorption, photoluminescence (PL), and PL quantum yields (Phi) were measured in different solvents and in solid films cast from methanol. Examination of the resulting trends, together with the spectral bandshapes in different solvents, suggests that increasing the counteranion (CA) size decreases interchain contacts and aggregation and leads to a substantial increase of Phi in the bulk. Size analysis of polymers containing Br- and BArF4- in water by dynamic light scattering techniques indicates suppression of aggregation by BArF4-. Nanoscale current-voltage measurements of films using conducting atomic force microscopy show that hole mobilities and, more significantly, charge injection barriers are CA dependent. These results show that it is possible to significantly modify the optoelectronic properties of conjugated polyelectrolytes by choosing different counterions. A parent conjugated backbone can thus be fine-tuned for specific applications.
Yang
Renqiang
R
Mitsubishi Chemical Center for Advanced Materials, Department of Chemistry & Biochemistry, Institute for Polymers and Organic Solids, University of California-Santa Barbara, CA 93106, USA.
Garcia
Andres
A
Korystov
Dmitry
D
Mikhailovsky
Alexander
A
Bazan
Guillermo C
GC
Nguyen
Thuc-Quyen
TQ
D000838:Anions / Q000737:chemistry; D052160:Benzothiazoles / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D002412:Cations / Q000737:chemistry; D004573:Electrolytes / Q000737:chemistry*; D005453:Fluorescence; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D000432:Methanol / Q000737:chemistry; D015394:Molecular Structure; D010316:Particle Size; D011789:Quantum Theory; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000138:chemical synthesis / Q000737:chemistry*; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D013052:Spectrometry, X-Ray Emission / Q000379:methods; D013237:Stereoisomerism; D013499:Surface Properties
D000838:Anions; D052160:Benzothiazoles; D002412:Cations; D004573:Electrolytes; D008567:Membranes, Artificial; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; C516930:poly((9,9-bis(6'-N,N,N-trimethylammoniumbromide)hexyl)fluorene-co-alt-4,7-(2,1,3-benzothiadiazole)); D000432:Methanol