High glass transition and thermal stability of new pyridine-containing polyimides: Effect of protonation on fluorescence

A new diamine monomer containing heterocyclic pyridine and triphenylamine groups, 4-(4,4′-diaminotriphenylamine)-2,6-bis(4-methylphenyl)pyridine (4), was synthesized by Chichibabin and nucleophilic fluoro-displacement reactions. The diamine was used to prepare a series of novel polyimides via polycondensation with various aromatic tetracarboxylic dianhydrides in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone. The polyimide 4a derived from the diamine 4 with 4,4′-hexafluoroisopropylidenediphthalic anhydride and having high T_g (313 °C), mechanical, and thermal properties was soluble in various organic solvents, such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone, N,N-dimethylacetamide, N,N-dimethylformamide, pyridine, chloroform, tetrahydrofuran, at room temperature. The polyimide (4a) could be cast into a self-standing film from DMAc solution and was thermally converted into tough and flexible film. The film had high tensile modulus of 2.2 GPa and exhibited excellent thermal stability in both nitrogen and air (T_d¹⁰ > 550 °C). The pristine polymer exhibited the UV-vis absorption bands in the region 240-400 nm and protonated polymer exhibited absorption in the region 390-500 nm. The protonated polymer possessed strong orange fluorescence (around 600 nm) in THF solution after protonation with acids as excited at 438 nm. The fluorescent intensity was influenced by the acid concentrations and the chemical structure of conjugated bases. The fluorescent intensity at 600 nm increased as acid concentration from a lower to a moderate concentration and decreased at higher concentrations.     

Synthesis and properties of novel polyimides derived from 2,6-bis(4-aminophenoxy-4′-benzoyl)pyridine with some of dianhydride monomers

A new kind of aromatic diamine monomer containing pyridine unit, 2,6-bis(4-aminophenoxy-4′-benzoyl)pyridine (BABP), was synthesized successfully. The Friedel-Crafts acylation of phenyl ethyl ether with 2,6-pyridinedicarbonyl chloride formed 2,6-bis(4,4′-dihydroxybenzoyl)-pyridine (BHBP), BHBP was changed into 2,6-bis(4-nitrophenoxy-4′-benzoyl)-pyridine (BNBP) by the nucleophilic substitution reaction of it and p-chloronitrobenzene, and BNBP was reduced with SnCl₂ and HCl in ethanol to form the diamine monomer BABP finally, the diamine monomer BABP could be obtained in quantitative yield. A series of novel polyimides were prepared by polycondensation of BABP with various aromatic dianhydrides in N-methy-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) via the conventional two-step method. Experimental results indicated that some of the polyimides were soluble both in strong dipolar solvents (N-methy-2-pyrrolidone or N,N-dimethylacetamide) and in common organic solvents tetrahydrofuran. The resulting polyimides showed exceptional thermal and thermooxidative stability, no weight loss was detected before a temperature of 450 °C in nitrogen, and the values of glass-transition temperature of them were in the range of 208-324 °C. Wide-angle X-ray diffraction measurements revealed that these polyimides were predominantly amorphous.     

A new synthetic approach for difficult benzoxazines: Preparation and polymerization of 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl sulfone-based benzoxazine monomer

The first successfully synthesized benzoxazine in high purity from 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl sulfone (DDS), paraformaldehyde and phenol using high boiling point nonpolar solvent is reported. The solution method for benzoxazine synthesis is modified by using a nonpolar solvent of high boiling point. For comparison, the synthesis of such difficult benzoxazine monomer was prepared in high boiling point polar solvent, dimethylsufoxide. ¹H NMR indicates the purity of the monomer prepared by this novel method to be quite high in comparison with that obtained using dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO). The thermally activated polymerization of the monomer affords polybenzoxazine with T_g at ca. 203 °C. The 5% and 10% decomposition temperatures of the polymer are 324 and 368 °C with 58% char yield, reflecting the excellent thermal stability than the typical polybenzoxazine based on bisphenol-A and aniline.     

Color lightness and highly organosoluble fluorinated polyamides, polyimides and poly(amide-imide)s based on noncoplanar 2,2′-dimethyl-4,4′-biphenylene units

A new diamine monomer containing noncoplanar methyl substitution, 2,2′-dimethyl-4,4′-bis(2-trifluoromethyl-4-aminophenoxy)biphenyl (DBTFAPB) was successfully synthesized and used in the preparation of a series of polyamides and polyimides by direct polycondensation with various aromatic dicarboxylic acids and tertacarboxylic dianhydrides. A new noncoplanar dicarboxylic acid monomer containing noncoplanar methyl substitution, 2,2′-dimethyl-4,4′-bis(2-trifluoromethyl-4-trimellitimidophenoxy)biphenyl (DBTFTPB) was also successfully synthesized by refluxing the diamine, DBTFAPB, with trimellitic anhydride in glacial acetic acid. A series of new poly(amide-imide)s were prepared directly from DBTFTPB with various diamines in N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP). All the polymers exhibited excellent solubility in solvents, such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP), N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAc), N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF), dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO), pyridine, tetrahydrofuran (THF), cyclohexanone and γ-butyrolactone at room temperature or upon heating at 70 °C. Inherent viscosities of the polymers were found to range between 0.60 and 1.34 dL g⁻¹. Gel permeation chromatography (GPC) of the polymers showed number-average and weight-average molecular weight up to 7.3×10⁴ and 17.9×10⁴, respectively. These polymers showed that the glass transition temperatures were between 230 and 265 °C, and the 10% mass loss temperatures were higher than 460 °C in nitrogen atmosphere. All the polymers could be cast into flexible and tough films from DMAc solutions. They had a tensile strength in the range of 82-124 MPa and a tensile modulus in the range of 1.9-2.9 GPa. These polymers exhibited low dielectric constants ranging from 2.87 to 4.03, low moisture absorption in the range of 0.29-3.20%, and high transparency with an ultraviolet-visible absorption cut-off wavelength in the 347-414 nm range.     

Synthesis and characterization of polyimides and co-polyimides having pendant benzoic acid moiety

A novel diamine monomer, 2,4-diamino-4′-carboxy diphenyl ether had been synthesized. Several polyimides were prepared by reacting this diamine with commercially available dianhydrides, such as benzophenone tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride (BTDA), 4,4′-bis{hexafluoroisopropylidene bis (phthalic anhydride)}(6-FDA), oxydiphthalic anhydride (ODPA) and 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic acid dianhydride (BPDA). Furthermore, copolymers from the resulting diamine and oxydianiline (ODA) with 6 FDA were also synthesized. The inherent viscosities of the polymers were 0.42-0.67 dl g⁻¹. The polymers have good solubility in polar aprotic solvents, high thermal stability up to 410 °C in nitrogen and high glass transition temperatures (T_g) ranging from 260-330 °C. These polymers formed tough flexible films by solution casting.     

Novel soluble polyimides derived from 2,2′-bis[4-(5-amino-2-pyridinoxy)phenyl]hexafluoropropane: Preparation,characterization, and optical,dielectric properties

Two novel aromatic diamine monomer, 2,2′-bis[4-(5-amino-2-pyridinoxy)phenyl] hexafluoropropane (6FBAPDP) and 2,2′-bis[4-(5-amino-2-pyridinoxy)phenyl] propane (BAPDP), were successfully synthesized. Aimed at clarifying the structure-property relationships of pyridine-containing high-performance polymers, a series of novel fluorinated polyimides PI-(1–4) were prepared from 6FBAPDP with various commercially aromatic anhydrides, and polyimide (PI-5) was synthesized derived from BAPDP and 2,2′-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane dianhydride (6FDA) via a two-stage process with heating imidization method. The fluorinated polyimides PI-(1–4) exhibited good solubility in strong polar solvents, such as N, N-dimethylacetamide, N, N-dimethylformamide, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, dimethyl sulfoxide, m-cresol, and could afford flexible, tough and transparent films with an UV–visible absorption cut-off wavelength at 342–393 nm. The glass transition temperatures of these polyimides were recorded between 239 and 306 °C by differential scanning calorimetry, and the 5% weight loss occurred at temperatures above 498 and 490 °C, in nitrogen and air, respectively. The polyimide films had the in-plane coefficients of thermal expansion (CTE) that ranged from 54 to 74 ppm °C⁻¹. Moreover, the fluorinated polyimide films showed low moisture absorptions of 0.51–0.82% and outstanding mechanical properties with the tensile strengths of 75–100 MPa, tensile moduli of 3.2–4.0 GPa and elongation at break of 5.5–10.3%, good dielectric properties with low dielectric constants of 2.71–2.92 at 1 MHz.     

H-bonding assisted template synthesis of a novel ladder-like organo-bridged polymethylsiloxane

A novel soluble aryl amide-bridged ladder-like polymethylsiloxane (ALPS) was synthesized via a stepwise coupling polymerization by means of H-bonding self-assembling template. The new monomer N,N′-di(4-methyldiethoxysiloxyl-phenyl)-terephthaloyl amide, prepared by dehydrocoupling reaction of N,N′-di(4-hydroxy-phenyl)-terephthaloyl amide with methyldiethoxysilane, was hydrolyzed in a dilute solution at low temperature to form a proposed ladder-like supramolecular intermediate through amido H-bonding interaction, which was further condensed to form polymer ALPS using dibuthyltindilaurate as catalyst. A combination of techniques including ¹H NMR, ²⁹Si NMR, FTIR, X-ray diffraction (XRD), DSC, and light scattering were used to characterize the titled polymer ALPS. The results indicate the polymer ALPS possesses an ordered ladder-like architecture.     

Synthesis and properties of organosoluble polyimides based on 2,2′-diphenoxy-4,4′,5,5′-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride

A novel method for the preparation of 2,2′-diphenoxy-4,4′,5,5′-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride have been investigated. This new dianhydride contains flexible phenoxy side chain and a twist biphenyl moiety and it was synthesized by the nitration of an N-methyl protected 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyltetracarboxylic dianhydride and subsequent aromatic nucleophilic substitution with phenoxide. The overall yield was up to 75%. The dianhydride was polymerized with five different aromatic diamines to afford a series of aromatic polyimides. The polyimide properties such as inherent viscosity, solubility, UV transparency and thermaloxidative properties were investigated to illustrate the contribution of the introduction of phenoxy group at 2- and 2′-position of BPDA dianhydride. The resulting polyimides possessed excellent solubility in the fact that the polyimide containing rigid diamines such as 1,4-phenylenediamine and 4,4′-oxydianiline were soluble in various solvents such as N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, N,N-dimethylacetamide, dimethyl sulfoxide and chloroform. The glass-transition temperatures of the polymers were in the range of 255-283 °C. These polymers exhibited good thermal stability with the temperatures at 5% weight loss range from 470 to 528 °C in nitrogen and 451 to 521 °C in air, respectively. The polyimide films were found to be transparent, flexible, and tough. The films had a tensile strength, elongation at break, and Young's modulus in the ranges 105-168 MPa, 15-51%, 1.87-2.38 GPa, respectively.     

Ortho alkyl substituents effect on solubility and thermal properties of fluorenyl cardo polyimides

Five fluorenyl cardo diamines containing different alkyl substituents were synthesized and characterized. A series of fluorenyl cardo polyimides were prepared by polycondensation of these cardo diamines with 4,4′-oxydiphthalic anhydride (ODPA), 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA), 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyl tetracarboylic dianhydride (BPDA) and pyromellitic dianhydride (PMDA). Most of fluorenyl cardo polyimides exhibited excellent solubility in common organic solvents such as m-cresol, chloroform, tetrahydrofuran (THF), N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone (NMP), N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC) etc. and intrinsic viscosity in N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC) ranged from 0.31 to 0.92 dl/g. T_g of polyimides based on ODPA decrease with the number and size of alkyl substituents on fluorenyl cardo diamine. The results show that the incorporation of noncoplanar structure led by the introducing alkyl substituents on fluorenyl cardo diamines improves the solubility of cardo polyimides in organic solvents without sacrificing thermal properties.     

Synthesis and characterization of highly refractive polyimides derived from 2,7-bis(4′-aminophenylenesulfanyl)thianthrene-5,5,10,10-tetraoxide and aromatic dianhydrides

New polyimides (PIs) containing thioether and sulfonyl groups in their main chains have been developed. These PIs were synthesized by a two-step polycondensation procedure from several dianhydrides such as 4,4′-[p-thiobis(phenylenesulfanyl)] diphthalic anhydride (3SDEA), 4,4′-oxydiphthalic anhydride (ODPA), 4,4′-[sulfonylbis(phenylenesulfanyl)] diphthalic anhydride (pDPSDA) and a new sulfonyl and sulfur-containing aromatic diamine, 2,7-bis(4′-aminophenylenesulfanyl)thianthrene-5,5,10,10-tetraoxide (APTTT). All of the PIs show good thermal and optical properties such as optical transparency higher than 80% at 450 nm for a thickness of ca. 10 μm, glass transition temperatures higher than 250 °C, thermal decomposition temperatures (T_10%) in the range of 504-514 °C. Because of the two sulfonyl groups at each monomer unit in the polymer main chain, all of the PIs show good transparency maintaining relatively high refractive index.     

Synthesis and properties of fluorinated polyimides. 3. Derived from novel 1,3-bis[3′-trifluoromethyl-4′(4″-amino benzoxy) benzyl] benzene and 4,4-bis[3′-trifluoromethyl-4′(4-amino benzoxy) benzyl] biphenyl

Novel diamine monomers, 1,3-bis[3′-trifluoromethyl-4′(4″-amino benzoxy) benzyl] benzene (IV) and 4,4-bis[3′-trifluoromethyl-4′(4-amino benzoxy) benzyl] biphenyl (V) have been synthesized. These monomers lead to several novel fluorinated polyimides on reaction with different commercially available dianhydrides like pyromellatic dianhydride (PMDA), benzophenone tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride (BTDA) or 2,2-bis(3,4-dicarboxyphenyl) hexafluoropropane (6FDA). The polyimides prepared from above two monomers on reaction with 6FDA are soluble in several organic solvents such as N,N-dimethyl formamide (DMF), N,N-dimethyl acetamide (DMAc) and tetrahydrofuran (THF). The polyimides prepared from PMDA/IV is soluble in DMF and N-methyl pyrollidone (NMP) on heating, whereas V/PMDA is insoluble in all solvents. BTDA/IV polyimide is also soluble in NMP, DMF and DMAc. These polyimide films have low water absorption rate 0.2-0.7% and low dielectric constant 2.74-3.2 at 1 MHz. These polyimides showed very high thermal stability even up to 531 °C for 5% weight loss in synthetic air and glass transition temperature up to 316 °C (by DSC) in nitrogen. All polyimides formed tough transparent films, with tensile strength up to 148 MPa, a modulus of elasticity up to 2.6 GPa and elongation at break up to 31% depending upon the exact repeating unit structure.     

Synthesis and optical properties of two series of soluble acridine-containing copolyimides

Two series of copolyimides were designed and synthesized by one-step polycondensation of two diamines, 3,6-diaminoacridine (Acridine) and 4,4′-(9H-fluoren-9-ylidene)bisphenylamine (FBPA), with a dianhydride 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride (6FDA) or 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenonetetracarboxylic dianhydride (BTDA), respectively. The copolyimides were named as AFFx (Acridine-FBPA-6FDA polyimide) and AFBx (Acridine-FBPA-BTDA polyimide), respectively, where x (x = 0, 1, 3, 5 10, 15 and 20) represents the mole percentage of acridine among the sum of two diamines. Characterization of the polymers was conducted by using FT-IR, EA, GPC, TGA, DSC, UV-vis and FL techniques. The Mw and MWD of AFFx are in the range of 2.29-5.09 × 10⁴ and 1.93-2.72, respectively, as determined using GPC. AFFx could be dissolved in some low boiling point solvents such as THF, CH₂Cl₂, CHCl₃, etc. Thin AFFx films could be prepared by spin coating its CHCl₃ or THF solution onto glass. The temperature of 10% weight loss (T₁₀) for the copolyimides was above 540 °C. The emission maximum of AFFx in solution at the excitation wavelength of 480 nm was near 545 nm. And that of AFBx solution at the excitation wavelength of 390 nm was near 525 nm. UV-vis and FL spectra of the copolyimides indicated that the main chromophores in the copolyimides were acridine moieties and the excitation energy transfer from fluorene moieties to acridine moieties could take place. The copolyimides maybe a potential thermostable light-emitting material for organic light-emitting diodes.     

Synthesis and characterization of calix[4]arene‐containing polyimides

Three types of amino‐functionalized calixarenes, i.e. the diaminocalix[4]arenes 5,17‐diaminomethyl‐25,26,27,28‐tetrapropoxycalix[4]arene, 25,27‐diaminoethoxy‐26,28‐dihydroxycalix[4]arene and 5,11,17,23‐tetra‐tert‐butyl‐25,27‐diaminoethoxy‐26,28‐dihydroxycalix[4]arene, were synthesized and incorporated as comonomers into the backbones of aromatic polyimides. As a first step, polyimide precursors (poly(amic acid)s) were prepared by condensation reaction of diamine with dianhydride at the stoichiometric ratio. The diamine component was composed of synthesized diaminocalix[4]arene and commercial 4,4′‐oxydianiline combined in various molar ratios. The dianhydride used was 4,4′‐oxydiphthalic anhydride. The poly(amic acid)s were characterized using intrinsic viscosity measurements and their chemical composition was determined using ¹H NMR spectroscopy. The precursors were then transformed into the polyimides using a thermal treatment. Thermal and dynamic mechanical behaviour, wide‐angle X‐ray diffraction and solubility of the resulting polyimide films in selected solvents were evaluated. The structure–property relationship of the novel types of synthesized polyimides is discussed in terms of the calixarene monomer used and the fraction of it incorporated into the polymer backbone. Copyright © 2010 Society of Chemical Industry     

Synthesis and characterization of novel sulfonated polyimides from 1,4-bis(4-aminophenoxy)-naphthyl-2,7-disulfonic acid

A novel sulfonated diamine monomer, 1,4-bis(4-aminophenoxy)-naphthyl-2,7-disulfonic acid (BAPNDS), was synthesized. A series of sulfonated polyimide copolymers were prepared from BAPNDS, 1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxylic dianhydride (NTDA) and nonsulfonated diamine 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl ether (ODA). Flexible, transparent, and mechanically strong membranes were obtained. The membranes displayed slightly anisotropic membrane swelling. The dimensional change in thickness direction was larger than that in planar. The novel SPI membranes showed higher conductivity, which was comparable or even higher than Nafion 117. Membranes exhibited methanol permeability from 0.24 × 10⁻⁶ to 0.80 × 10⁻⁶ cm²/s at room temperature, which was much lower than that of Nafion (2 × 10⁻⁶ cm²/s). The copolymers were thermally stable up to 340 °C. These preliminary results have proved its potential availability as proton-exchange membrane for PEMFCs or DMFCs.     

Volatile static random access memory behavior of an aromatic polyimide bearing carbazole-tethered triphenylamine moieties

A functional polyimide (6F/CzTPA PI), 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphthalic anhydride (6FDA)/ 4,4′-diamino-4″-N-carbazolyltriphenylamine (DACzTPA), was synthesized in our present work for electrical resistive memory device applications. Semiconductor parameter analysis on the polyimide memory devices indicates that the synthesized polyimide possesses a volatile static random access memory (SRAM) characteristic with an ON/OFF current ratio of about 10⁵ at the threshold voltage of around 1.5 V and −1.8 V. In addition, the device using the 6F/CzTPA PI as the active layer reveals excellent long-term operation stability with the endurance of reading cycles up to 10⁸ under a voltage pulse and retention times for at least 8 h under constant voltage stress (−1 V). The charge transfer mechanisms and the roles of the donor and acceptor components in the PI macromolecules associated with the electrical switching effect are elucidated on the basis of the experimental and quantum simulation results.     

Synthesis of novel maleimide-terminated thioetherimide oligomer and its bulk copolymerization with reactive solvents

This paper reports the synthesis of a novel maleimide-terminated thioetherimide oligomer and its copolymerization with reactive solvents bearing vinyl. Starting from 3-chlorophthalic anhydride and 4-chlorophthalic anhydride, 2,2′,3,3′-thiodiphenyl tertracaboxylic dianhydride (3,3′-TDPA) and 3,3′,4,4′-thiodiphenyl tertracaboxylic dianhydride (4,4′-TDPA) were synthesized. Thereby, a novel maleimide-terminated thioetherimide oligomer was prepared from. 3,3′-TDPA, 4,4′-TDPA, 3,3′-dimethyl-4,4′-diaminodiphenylmethane (DMMDA) and maleic anhydride. Binary and ternary copolymer resin were derived from corresponding binary and ternary homogeous solution consisting of thioetherimide oligomer, reactive solvent N-vinylpyrrolidone (NVP) or N,N′-dimethylacrylamide (DMAA) and divinylbenzene (DVB) as modifier, initiated either by gamma ray irradiation or by benzoyl peroxide (BPO). Thermal and mechanical properties of copolymer resin are determined and compared in terms of the kind of reactive solvent, addition of modifier DVB. The effect of initiation approach on property of final copolymer resin were studied. Phase separation and sub-transition of ternary copolymer resin induced by BPO are observed, which could be accounted for by thermal movement of DMAA molecules during thermal initiation. Structure-property relationship of copolymer resin was discussed. The effect of monomer molar ratio of 3,3′-TDPA and 4,4′-TDPA on thermal and mechanical properties were investigated.     

Copolyimides with trifluoromethyl or methoxy substituents. NMR characterization

In the first stage, a series of aromatic diamine compounds such as 2-methoxy-5,4′-diaminodiphenyl ether (ODAOMe) and 2-trifluomethyl-4,4′-diaminodiphenyl ether (ODACF₃) were synthesized. These aromatic diamines and 4,4′-diaminodiphenyl ether (ODA) were then used to prepare copolyimides with 4,4′-oxydiphthalic anhydride (ODPA) and bicyclo[2.2.2]-oct-7-ene-2,3,5,6-tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BCDA). Both chemical composition and the arrangements of repetitive units were characterized by ¹H and ¹⁹F NMR. It was shown that solubility and thermal stability are related to the BCDA fraction in the copolymers and to the chemical structure of the diamine.     

Multiblock sulfonated-fluorinated poly(arylene ether)s for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell

New proton exchange membranes were prepared and evaluated as polymer electrolytes for a proton exchange membrane fuel cell (PEMFC). Sulfonated-fluorinated poly(arylene ether) multiblocks (MBs) were synthesized by nucleophilic aromatic substitution of highly activated fluorine terminated telechelics made from decafluorobiphenyl with 4,4′-(hexafluoroisopropylidene)diphenol and hydroxyl-terminated telechelics made from 4,4′-biphenol and 3,3′-disulfonated-4,4′-dichlorodiphenylsulfone. Membranes with various sulfonation levels were successfully cast from N-methyl-2-pyrrolidinone. An increase sulfonated block size in the copolymer resulted in enhanced membrane ion exchange capacity and proton conductivity. The morphological structure of MB copolymers was investigated by tapping mode atomic force microscopy (TM-AFM) and compared with those of Nafion^® and sulfonated poly(arylene ether) random copolymers. AFM images of MBs revealed a very well defined phase separation, which may explain their higher proton conductivities compared to the random copolymers. The results are of particular interest for hydrogen/air fuel cells where conductivity at high temperature and low relative humidity is a critical issue.     

Side chain length dependence on supra-molecular structures in a series of aromatic polyimides having terminal 4-cyanobiphenyl liquid crystalline side chains

A series of newly designed polyimides, composed of aromatic polyimide backbones and methylene side chains with terminal 4-cyanobiphenyl groups, were synthesized based on the polycondensation of 3,3′,4,4′-biphenyl tetracarboxylic dianhydride (BPDA) with 2,2′-bis{ω-[4-(4-cyanophenyl)phenyoxy-n-alkoxycarbonyl]}-4,4′-biphenyl diamine (nCBBP, where n is the number of methylene units in the side chains). We report our structural and morphological studies on this series of BPDA-nCBBP, which possesses n=7, 9, and 11 methylene units in the side chains. For these three polyimides, a nematic (N) phase was first formed at high-temperatures during cooling from the isotropic melt. The transition temperatures and enthalpies were cooling-rate independent as observed in differential scanning calorimetry. This N phase was further confirmed by the results of wide angle X-ray diffraction (WAXD) and polarized light microscopic experiments. At lower temperatures, ordered structures were formed. It was surprising that in the cases of BPDA-nCBBP (n=7 and 9), triclinic lattices were observed; while in the case of BPDA-11CBBP, a hexagonal lattice was evident, as determined by 2D WAXD experiments. This indicated that by increasing the number of methylene units in the LC side chains, the individual chains (base unit) used in constructing these supra-molecular structures changed their packing symmetry. Namely, when the number of methylene units in the side chains was relatively low (i.e. the length is short), the individual chains were packed into a ribbon-like structure. However, when the side chain length is long enough, the individual chains exhibit cylindrical symmetry. Regardless of the lattice formed by the supra-molecular structures, they are all on the nanometer length scale.     

Synthesis and blue luminescence of a soluble newly designed carbazole main-chain polymer

A new electroactive polymer with alternating conjugated-nonconjugated repeating units in the main chain was synthesized by step growth polymerization of α,ω-bis(N-carbazolyl)octane in chloroform solution with excess of iron trichloride, and in the presence of N-ethylcarbazole as a terminating agent. The resulting α,ω-N-ethylcarbazole terminated poly(3,3′-bicarbazyl-N,N′-octylene)s are readily soluble in common organic solvents and have good film-forming capabilities, partly because of the special design of the polymer backbone constituted by stiff bicarbazyl chromophores linked by flexible eight-carbon segments. Soluble materials with molecular weights up to 105 g/mol and polydispersity indices around 3.3 were obtained. Purified samples exhibiting quite low polydispersity indices (in the range 1.5-1.7) can be prepared by a selective fractionation of the crude polymer from benzene/methanol mixtures. Structural analysis of these new ‘stairs-like’ polymers disclosed their well-defined character with an aromatic linkage exclusively at position 3 on the carbazole moieties. Electrochemical studies of polymer films exhibited two reversible redox processes between 0 and 1.5 V vs saturated calomel electrode. The photoluminescence (PL) of the polymer in solution and as cast films revealed an intense blue emission and the same intensity level than that of the N,N′-diethyl-3,3′-bicarbazyl molecule, taken as a model of the aromatic segment of the repeating unit. Such a processable and purifiable polymer with bicarbazyl-isolated fluorophores is quite promising for the fabrication of efficient blue light-emitting devices.