Synthesis and optoelectronic properties of thermally cross-linkable fluorene derivative containing hole-transporting triphenylamine terminals

This paper describes the synthesis of a solution-processable and thermally cross-linkable 2,7-bis-[4-bis(4-vinylphenyl)aminophenyl]-9,9-dihexylfluorene (VTF) and its application as hole-transporting layer in multilayer polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs). The thermal, photophysical, and electrochemical properties of VTF were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, thermogravimetric analysis, optical spectroscopy, and cyclic voltammetry. The VTF is readily cross-linked via vinyl groups by heating at 180 °C for 30 min to obtain homogeneous film with excellent solvent resistance. Multilayer PLEDs (ITO/PEDOT:PSS/cured-VTF/MEH-PPV/Ca/Al) were readily fabricated by spin-coating process using cross-linked VTF as hole-transporting layer (HTL). The maximum brightness (13,640 cd/m²) and current efficiency (0.69 cd/A) were superior to those without HTL (ITO/PEDOT:PSS/MEH-PPV/Ca/Al: 7810 cd/m², 0.28 cd/A). In addition, the cured-VTF could replace conventional hole-injection layer (PEDOT:PSS) to reveal comparable performance (8240 cd/m², 0.44 cd/A). Current results indicate that the VTF with four thermally cross-linkable terminal vinyl groups is a promising optoelectronic material, which is readily processed by wet processes.     

Synthesis and optoelectronic properties of thermally cross-linkable hole-transporting poly(fluorene-co-triphenylamine)

This paper describes the synthesis of a new thermally cross-linkable hole-transporting poly(fluorene-co-triphenylamine) (PFTV) by Suzuki coupling reaction and its application in polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs). The characteristics of PFTV were analyzed by ¹H NMR, differential scanning calorimetry, optical spectroscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and atomic force microscopy. Its HOMO level lies between those of PEDOT:PSS and poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene), forming a stepwise energy ladder to facilitate hole-injection. Multilayer device with thermally cross-linked PFTV as hole-transporting layer (ITO/PEDOT:PSS/HTL/PFO/LiF/Ca/Al) was readily fabricated by successive spin-coating processes, its maximum luminance efficiency (2.27 cd/A) was significantly higher than that without PFTV layer (0.50 cd/A). In addition, the PFTV was successfully applied as host for red-emitting Ir(piq)₂acac to obtain a device with moderate performance (5300 cd/m² and 2.64 cd/A). The PFTV is a promising hole-transporting material for the fabrication of multilayer PLEDs by wet processes as well as a potential host for phosphorescent PLEDs.     

Proton-conducting electrolyte membranes based on hyperbranched polymer with a sulfonic acid group for high-temperature fuel cells

The hyperbranched polymers (HBP-SA-Acs) with both a sulfonic acid group as a functional group and an acryloyl group as a cross-linker at terminals in different ratios of sulfonic acid group/acryloyl group (SO₃H/Ac) were successfully synthesized as a new thermally stable proton-conducting electrolyte. The cross-linked hyperbranched polymer electrolyte membranes (CL-HBP-SAs) were prepared by thermal polymerizations of the HBP-SA-Acs using benzoyl peroxide, and their ionic conductivities under dry condition and thermal properties were investigated. The ionic conductivities of the CL-HBP-SAs were found to be in the range of 2.2 × 10⁻⁴ to 3.3 × 10⁻⁶ S/cm, depending upon the SO₃H unit contents, at 150 °C under dry condition, and showed the Vogel-Tamman-Fulcher (VTF) type temperature dependence, indicating that proton transfer is cooperated by local polymer chain motion. All CL-HBP-SAs were thermally stable up to 260 °C, and they had suitable thermal stability as electrolyte membranes for the high-temperature fuel cells under dry condition. Fuel cell measurement using a single membrane electrode assembly cell with a cross-linked electrolyte membrane was successfully performed under non-humidified condition. It was demonstrated that applying the concept of dry polymer system to proton conduction is one possible approach toward high-temperature fuel cells.     

Novel fluorene-based light-emitting copolymers containing cyanophenyl pendants and carbazole-triphenylamines: Synthesis, characterization and their PLED application

A series of novel blue light-emitting copolymers PCC-1, PCC-2, and PCC-3, composed of different ratios of electron-withdrawing segments (spirobifluorene substituted with cyanophenyl groups) and electron-donating segments (carbazole-triphenylamines), has been synthesized and characterized. In order to investigate the effect of hole/electron charge transporting segments, two reference polymers PSF and PCF, containing only one charge transporting moiety in the polymer backbone, were also synthesized. Incorporation of the rigid spirobifluorene units substituted with cyanophenyl groups into the polymer backbone improved not only the thermal stabilities but also the photoluminescence efficiencies. The polymers except PSF possess similar hole injection barriers but different hole transporting abilities. With the device configuration of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/polymers:PBD/CsF/Ca/Al, PCC-2 showed the best performance with the lowest turn-on voltage of 3.1 V, the highest luminance of 6369 cd/m², the highest current efficiency of 1.97 cd/A, and the best power efficiency of 1.40 lm/w.     

Synthesis of a pyridine substituted polycarbodiimide and its use as a solid support for chemical reagents

Optically active, polycarbodiimides 3(a, b & c) with pyridine pendant groups were synthesized using [(R) - 2,2′- binaphthoxy] (di-isopropoxy) titanium(IV) catalyst. The polymers were characterized by ¹H and ¹³C NMR, and IR. Thermal stability of these polymers (up to 162 °C by TGA), allows thermally demanding chemical transformations on their side chains without decomposition. Advantages include fine-tunability of the other pendant group of the carbodiimide monomer. This allows one to optimize the properties of the polymer without undergoing copolymerization or further post-polymerization modifications. Borane (BH₃) was coordinated to poly 3 (a & b) to prepare the functional polymers 4 (a & b) respectively. A strong IR signature peak at 2368 cm⁻¹ supports BH₃ coordination. Gravimetric analysis indicates 97-99% borane complexation of the pyridine units. In addition, the thermal stability increased to 194 °C in poly 4a is consistent with the incorporation of BH₃ to the pendant pyridine of the helical polycarbodiimide 3a. Poly 4 (a & b) can be used as supported reagents and successfully reduced the carbonyl compounds (5 a-e) in moderate to excellent yields (60-100%) and are shown to be efficient, non-volatile, stable, and mild supported-reducing reagents. Upon completion of the reduction reaction, the polymer support was quantitatively recycled as required for a green solid catalyst support.     

Synthesis and optoelectronic properties of luminescent copolyfluorenes slightly doped with thiophene chromophore

This paper describes the synthesis of new copolyfluorenes (P05-P5) slightly doped with 2,5-bis(2-phenyl-2-cyanovinyl)thiophene (GM, <3.4 mol%) and their application in electroluminescent (EL) devices. In film state, EL spectra of the copolyfluorenes are very different from photoluminescence (PL) spectra, which have been ascribed to charge trapping in GM and energy transfer from fluorene segments to GM chromophores. The maximum brightness and current efficiency of EL device from P05 (5230 cd/m², 0.65 cd/A) are significantly enhanced when compared with those from poly(9,9-dihexylfluorene) (PF) (1310 cd/m², 0.18 cd/A). The EL device using blend of P5 and PF (w/w = 10/1) as emitting layer exhibits near-white emission with CIE coordinate being (0.26, 0.32). The results demonstrate that the copolyfluorenes slightly doped with GM chromophore are promising emitting materials for optoelectronic devices.     

Synthesis, electroluminescence, and photovoltaic properties of dendronized poly(p-phenylene vinylene) derivatives

Two dendronized poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) derivatives, ED-PPV and BB-PPV, have been successfully synthesized according to the Gilch route. The obtained polymers possess excellent solubility in common solvents, good thermal stability with 5% weight loss temperature of more than 340 °C. The weight-average molecular weight (M_w) and polydispersity index (PDI) of ED-PPV and BB-PPV are in the range of (1.26-2.34)×10⁵ and 1.37-1.45, respectively. Polymer light-emitting diodes (PLEDs) with the configuration of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/polymer/Ca/Al devices were fabricated, and the PLEDs emitted green-yellow light. The turn-on voltages of the PLEDs based on ED-PPV and BB-PPV were approximately 4.3, and 4.5 V, respectively. The PLED devices of ED-PPV exhibited the maximum luminance of about 157 cd/m² at 10.5 V. Photovoltaic cells with the configuration of ITO/PEDOT:PSS/polymer:C₆₀ (1:1)/Al were also fabricated, and the energy conversion efficiency of the devices based on ED-PPV and BB-PPV was measured to be 0.58, and 0.014%, respectively, under the white light at 75 mW/cm².     

Synthesis and characterization of low- and medium-molecular-weight hyperbranched polyethylenes by chain walking ethylene polymerization with Pd-diimine catalysts

We report in this article the synthesis and characterization of a range of hyperbranched polyethylenes having various low and medium molecular weights by chain walking ethylene polymerization with Pd-diimine catalysts of reduced ligand steric crowdedness, which are intended for potential applications as novel synthetic base stocks. Four Pd-diimine catalysts featured with different ligand crowdedness, ([(RC₆H₃NC(R′)-C(R′)NC₆H₃R)Pd(CH₃) (NCMe)]SbF₆) (1, R = 2,6-(iPr)₂, R′ = CH₃; 2, R = CH₃, R′ = H; 3, R = 2,6-(iPr)₂, R′ = H; 4, R = CH₃, R′ = CH₃), were employed herein for ethylene polymerizations at different conditions. Generally, reducing ligand steric crowdedness (in the order 1 > 4 > 3 > 2) leads to decreased catalyst activity and dramatically reduced polymer molecular weight. As opposed to high-molecular-weight polymers (weight-average molecular weight (M_w): about 150 kg/mol) obtained with catalyst 1, low-molecular-weight polymers (M_w: below 1.0 kg/mol) were obtained with 2 and 3, and medium-molecular-weight polymers (M_w: about 25 kg/mol) were produced with 4. Despite their various reduced molecular weights, the polymers are all featured with highly branched chain structures with a total branching density of above 100 branches per 1000 carbons. The low- and medium-molecular-weight hyperbranched polymers synthesized with 2-4 display good potential for applications as synthetic base stocks. In comparison with three commercial poly(α-olefin) based synthetic base stocks, they exhibit similar thermal and viscosity properties. Meanwhile, it is also discovered that a subsequent one-pot hydrogenation step can be incorporated in the process after the Pd-diimine catalyzed polymerization step to render nearly fully saturated hyperbranched polymers without the use of additional hydrogenation catalysts.     

New host copolymers containing pendant triphenylamine and carbazole for efficient green phosphorescent OLEDs

A series of vinyl copolymers (P1-P6) containing pendant hole-transporting triphenylamine (11-88 mol%) and carbazole chromophores were synthesized by radical copolymerization to investigate the influence of triphenylamine groups upon optoelectronic properties. The copolymers were readily soluble in common organic solvents and their weight-average molecular weights (M_ws) were between 1.41 × 10⁴ and 2.24 × 10⁴. They exhibited moderate thermal stability with T_d = 402-432 °C at 5% weight loss. The emission spectra (both PL and EL) of the blends [P1-P6 with 4 wt% Ir(ppy)₃] showed dominant green emission (517 nm) attributed to Ir(ppy)₃ due to efficient energy transfer from P1-P6 to Ir(ppy)₃. The HOMO levels of P1-P6, estimated from onset oxidation potentials in cyclic voltammeter, were −5.42 to −5.18 eV, which are much higher than −5.8 eV of conventional poly(9-vinylcarbazole) (PVK) host owing to high hole-affinity of the triphenylamine groups. The optoelectronic performances of phosphorescent EL devices, using P1-P6 as hosts and Ir(ppy)₃ as dopant (ITO/PEDOT:PSS/P1-P6:Ir(ppy)₃ (4 wt%):PBD (40 wt%)/BCP/Ca/Al), were greatly improved relative to that of PVK. The best performance was obtained with P4 device, in which the maximum luminance and luminance efficiency were 11?501 cd/m² and 10.6 cd/A, respectively.     

New light-emitting hyperbranched polymers prepared from tribromoaryls and 9,9-dihexylfluorene-2,7-bis(trimethyleneborate)

Three new hyperbranched polymers (P1-P3) were prepared by copolymerization of tribromoaryl moieties (triphenylamine, carbazole and fluorene moieties) with 9,9-dihexylfluorene-2,7-bis(trimethyleneborate) from “A₂ + B₃” approach based on Suzuki polycondensation reaction. They are soluble in common organic solvents, and exhibit good thermal stable luminescence. Interestingly, unlike most of fluorene-containing polymeric materials, P3 emits strong green light due to its special structure. Double-layer devices with configurations ITO/PEDOT/Polymer (50 nm)/TPBI(50 nm)/LiF(0.5 nm)/Al(80 nm) were fabricated and emitted blue or green light, with maximum luminance in the range of 25-142 cd/m² and the current efficiency up to 0.18 cd/A.     

Synthesis and characterization of alternating fluorene-based copolymers containing diaryl- and non-substituted bithiophene units

A series of soluble alternating fluorene-based copolymers containing diaryl- and non-substituted bithiophene units are synthesized by palladium-catalyzed Suzuki coupling reaction. All polymers demonstrate green colors of photoluminescence (PL) in chloroform, good thermal stability (with decomposition temperatures above 436 °C), and high glass transition temperatures (in the range of 120-144 °C). Owing to the large steric hindrance of diaryl substituents on bithiophenes in the polymers (P2-P4), the aggregation of solids is reduced as well as the solubility is improved, so the performance of their PLED devices are superior to that of the non-substituted polymer (P1). Compared with P1, the introduction of substitutents at 3,3′-position of bithiophene in P2-P4 has significant effects on the photophysical properties of resulting polymers in solution and solid states. Though the PL quantum yield of P1 is much higher than those of diaryl-substituted polymers (P2-P4), the PLED device of P1 has the worst electroluminescence (EL) properties due to the poor solubility of P1. Consequently, among these polymers, the device made of P3 as an emitter has the highest luminance of 2590 cd/m² at 9.5 V. For optimum device performance, a device of P3 blended with PVK can be further enhanced to a brighter luminance of 4284 cd/m² at 18 V.     

Synthesis and characterization of trichlorotitanium 2-(2-pyridinyliminomethyl)phenolates and their ethylene (co-)polymerization behavior

The series of trichlorotitanium 2-(2-pyridinyliminomethyl)phenolates, [4,6-tBu₂C₆H₂O-2-CHNC₅R^1-4N]TiCl₃ (R^1-4 = H (1); R^1,3,4 = H, R² = Me (2); R^1,2,4 = H, R³ = Me (3); R^2,4 = H, R^1,3 = Me (4); R^1,3 = H, R² = CF₃, R⁴ = Cl (5)), were synthesized and characterized by elemental analysis and ¹H/¹³C NMR spectroscopy. The molecular structures of the representative complexes 2 and 4 were confirmed by single-crystal X-ray diffraction, and revealed distorted octahedral geometry at titanium. In the presence of MAO, all titanium pro-catalysts showed good activities for ethylene polymerization with good thermal stability at the optimum temperature of 50 °C. In comparison with the ethylene polymerization results, the activity observed for the co-polymerization of ethylene/1-hexene was far lower, but the polymers produced were of high molecular weight. For the co-polymerization of ethylene/1-octene, enhanced catalytic activity was observed, with 1-octene incorporation of up to 3.83 mol%.     

Highly active and trans-1,4 specific polymerization of 1,3-butadiene catalyzed by 2-pyrazolyl substituted 1,10-phenanthroline ligated iron (II) complexes

A new family of iron (II) complexes (2a–h) bearing tridentate 2-pyrazolyl substituted 1,10-phenanthroline ligands were successfully prepared and characterized by IR spectroscopy, elemental analysis, and mass spectra. Complexes 2a–f and 2h were further confirmed by the X-ray crystallographic analysis. 2a, 2b, 2e, and 2f adopted distorted trigonal bipyramidal configuration. 2c displayed a distorted octahedron formed by six coordinated nitrogen atoms of the two ligands. Linked by two bridged chloride atoms, complex 2d was a centrosymmetric dimmer, and complex 2h adopted a six-coordinate distorted octahedral geometry due to the coordination of two solvent molecules. These complexes activated by alkylaluminum were examined in butadiene polymerization. In combination with AlⁱBu₃, complexes 2a–c exhibited high catalytic activity (73.5%–94.3%) at 20 °C, whereas other complexes exhibited much lower activity. Interestingly, the activity and selectivity of the complexes increased as increasing polymerization temperature. In particular, 2b and 2c displayed both high activity (99% and 80%, respectively) and trans-1,4 selectivity (95.6% and 96.2%, respectively) at 60 °C. The trans-1,4 selectivity of 2b varied as alkylaluminum used as a cocatalyst, in the following order: AlⁱBu₃ > AlOct₃ > AlEt₃ > AlMe₃, whereas much lower trans-1,4 selectivity was observed in the cases of using MAO and MMAO.     

Synthesis and property of 9,9′-spirobifluorene-containing aromatic polyesters as optical polymers with high refractive index and low birefringence

C₂-Symmetric 9,9′-spirobifluorene-containing polyesters (PEs) were synthesized by polycondensation of 2,2′-dihydroxy-9,9′-spirobifluorene (1) with bis(acyl chloride)s (2) at 230 °C in diphenylether. The molecular weights of PEs 3a-3f were sufficiently high (M_w 13,400-41,600). PEs displayed high thermal stability. The glass transition temperatures (T_g) estimated by differential scanning calorimetry analysis appeared in a range 177-352 °C depending on the spacer structure, while the 5% decomposition temperatures (T_d5) measured by thermogravimetric analysis were over 416 °C both under nitrogen atmosphere and in air. PEs showed good solubility in typical organic solvents such as CHCl₃ and THF easily to afford the tough, transparent, and flexible cast films. The transmittance of the polymer films reached over 90% in the wavelength range from ca. 410-900 nm. In addition, PEs exhibited higher refractive index rather than that of commercially available 9,9-diarylfluorene-containing PE, in addition to very low degree of birefringence presumably due to the C₂-symmetric structure.     

Encapsulation-release property of amphiphilic hyperbranched d-glucan as a unimolecular reverse micelle

The synthesis of a novel unimolecular reverse micelle, the hyperbranched d-glucan carbamate (3), was accomplished through the carbamation reaction of the hyperbranched d-glucan (1) with the N-carbonyl l-leucine ethyl ester (2) in pyridine at 100 °C. Polymer 3 was soluble in a large variety of organic solvents, such as methanol, acetone, chloroform, and ethyl acetate, and insoluble in water, which remarkably differed from the solubility of 1. The degree of carbamate substitution (DS) for 3 was controlled by the feed rate of 2, and the DS values were in the range of 46.0-93.7%. Polymer 3 possessed the encapsulation ability for water-soluble molecules, such as rose bengal, thymol blue, and alizarin yellow in chloroform, and the encapsulation ability depended on the hydrophilicity of 3 and the molecular size of the dye. The rose bengal (RB) encapsulated polymer (RB/3) showed a slow release from the RB/3 system into water at neutral pH, while the release rate was significantly accelerated by the hydrolysis of the hydrophobic polymer shell under basic conditions.     

Bridge length effect of new dinuclear constrained geometry catalysts on controlling the polymerization behaviors of ethylene/styrene copolymerization

According to the observable evidence from ¹H and ¹³C nuclear magnetic resonance and mass spectrometry, new dinuclear constrained geometry catalysts (DCGCs) with a structure of [{Ti(η⁵:η¹-(C₉H₅)Si(CH₃)₂N^tBu)Cl₂(CH₂)_n}₂(C₆H₄)] [n = 0 (10), n = 1 (11), n = 2 (12)] were synthesized successfully. Copolymerization of ethylene and styrene were tested by using three new DCGCs and Dow CGC. The catalyst activity, the molecular weight (MW) and styrene content of the copolymers were sharply improved as the bridge structure was transformed from para-phenyl (10) to para-xylyl (11) and para-diethylenephenyl (12). The activity of 11 and 12 was about four to five times greater than that of 10 regardless of the polymerization conditions. In addition, the capability to form high MW polymers increased in the order of Dow CGC ≈ 10 < 11 < 12. The styrene contents in copolymers generated by 11 and 12 were higher than those of 10.     

Low bandgap EDOT-quinoxaline and EDOT-thiadiazol-quinoxaline conjugated polymers: Synthesis, redox, and photovoltaic device

Three new low bandgap conjugated copolymers with 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) as donor and 2,3-bis(4-octyloxyphenyl)-quinoxaline (P1), 2,3-bis(4-octyloxyphenyl)-thiadiazol-quinoxaline (P2, P3) as acceptors were synthesized by Stille cross-coupling reaction, and their optical and electrochemical properties were studied. These polymers exhibited optical bandgap of 1.77, 1.29 and 1.13 eV, for P1, P2 and P3, respectively. Photovoltaic cells with device configuration of ITO/PEDOT: PSS/Copolymer: PCBM (1:4 w/w)/LiF/Al were fabricated. The measurements revealed an open-circuit voltage (V_oc) of 0.52 V, short-circuit current density (J_sc) of 3.24 mA/cm² and power conversion efficiency (PCE) of 0.60% for P1, and showed a V_oc of 0.33 V, J_sc of 2.11 mA/cm², PCE of 0.39% for P2.     

Polynorbornene copolymers with pendent o-carborane and carbazole groups: Novel side-chain donor–acceptor copolymers for turn-on sensing of nucleophilic anions

Vinyl-type polynorbornene copolymers with side-chain o-carborane (1-phenyl-o-carborane for P1–P3; 1-methyl-o-carborane for P4) and carbazole moieties were produced by vinyl addition copolymerization of norbornene monomers using a Pd(II) catalyst in combination with 1-octene chain transfer agent. The catalytic system provided well-defined copolymers with controlled incorporation of monomers. The copolymers possessed high thermal stability with high decomposition (T_d5 > 410 °C) and glass transition temperatures (T_g > 350 °C). Treatment of the closo-copolymers (P1–P4) with excess KOH in refluxing EtOH/THF led to degradation of the closo-carborane cage to produce nido-copolymers (nido-(P1–P4)). While P1–P3 exhibited a weak carbazole-based fluorescence, the corresponding nido-copolymers gave rise to a 2.0–3.6-fold increase in PL intensity depending on the comonomer content. An electrochemical study and comparative PL results of P4 and nido-P4 suggest that photoinduced charge transfer from carbazole donors to 1-phenyl-o-carborane acceptors was responsible for the weak fluorescence of P1–P3.     

The synthesis, crystal structures and photophysical properties of a series of novel 4,6-diphenyl-1,9-anthrazolines

The synthesis and properties of a series of nine new 4,6-diphenyl-1,9-anthrazolines molecules 1a-1i are reported. Compounds 1a-1i were synthesized by Friedländer condensation of 4,6-dibenzoyl-1,3-phenylenediamines and acetyl-functionalized compounds in the presence of polyphosphoric acid as catalyst, in yields ranging from 60% to 94%. The 4,6-diphenyl-1,9-anthrazolines are thermally robust with high decomposition temperatures (>371.0 °C) and high melt transitions (215.1-322.8 °C). Compounds 1a and 1f crystallized in the triclinic system with the space groups P-1. All of them show the lowest energy absorption bands (λ_max^Abs: 397-454 nm), revealing low optical band gaps (2.55-3.00 eV). The compounds emit blue fluorescence with λ_max^Em ranging from 432 to 493 nm in dilute toluene solution. 4,6-Diphenyl-1,9-anthrazolines 1a-1i have a formal reduction potential in the range −1.02 to −1.19 V (versus SCE) and estimated electron affinities (LUMO levels) of 3.21-3.38 eV. These results demonstrate that the new 4,6-diphenyl-1,9-anthrazolines are promising thermally stable n-type semiconductors for organic electronics.     

Poly(7-oxanorbornenes) carrying 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxy (TEMPO) radicals: Synthesis and charge/discharge properties

TEMPO-containing 7-oxanorbornene monomers 1-4 (TEMPO = 2,2,6,6-tetramethylpiperidine-1-oxy) were synthesized and polymerized via ring-opening metathesis using a ruthenium carbene catalyst. Monomers 1 and 3 gave polymers with number-average weights of 80?100 and 112?200 in 85 and 96% yields, respectively, whereas monomers 2 and 4 did not provide high molecular weight polymers. Poly(1) and poly(3) were soluble in common solvents including CHCl₃, CH₂Cl₂ and THF, while insoluble in hexane, diethyl ether and MeOH. They were thermally stable up to ca. 240 °C according to the TGA measurements in air. The secondary batteries utilizing the present polymers as cathode-active material demonstrated reversible charge/discharge processes, whose discharge capacities were 107 and 92.8 A h/kg, and displayed excellent high-rate charge and discharge properties. These cells demonstrated excellent cycle life, e.g., the discharge capacities of poly(1) and poly(3) showed less than 10% decrements even after 100 cycles.