Preparation and characterization of conjugated polymer with chromic properties

Author(s)

Vanessa Cristina Gonçalves

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Carlos.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Instituto de Física de São Carlos (IFSC/BT)
• Defense date: 2006-03-06

Examining board members

Debora Terezia Balogh; Teresa Dib Zambon Atvars; Marcelo Henrique Gehlen

• Advisor: Debora Terezia Balogh

Abstract

Polythiophene derivatives are promising for optical sensors due to their chromic properties while azofunctionalized polymers have been used in several applications such as optical memories. In this work, an azosubstituted polythiophene was prepared by the functionalization of the thiophenic monomer with an azobenzene moiety in order to combine the polythiophene properties with those from the azopolymers. For the sake of comparison, a polyalkylthiophene, the poly(3- octylthiophene), and a copolymer of 3-octylthiophene and the azothiophene were synthesized. The azosubstituted monomer was synthesized by the esterification reaction of 3-thiopheneacetic acid and the commercial dye Disperse Red 1 (DRI), whilc the alkyl thiophene monomer was purchased. The polymers were prepared by oxidative polymerization reactions with ferric chloride and characterized chemically and structurally using FTIR, 1H NMR, elemental analysis and thermal analysis (TG and DSC) techniques. From these analyses, the formation of homopolymers was confirmed, but it was not possible to confirm the formation of the copolymer. In the latter, the amount of azosubstituted units was smaller than expected. The analysis of the polymers photoluminescence showed the influence of the side chain in the intensity and shape of the emission spectra. UV-Vis spectroscopy was used to study the polymer chromic properties which showed thermo- and solvatochromism. Thermochromism was analyzed in solution and in thin solid films and the solvatochromism was studied in pure solvent solutions and mixtures of THF/hexane in different ratios. These polymers also had their absorption spectra affected by changing the concentration of a protonic acid (HCI) solution. Photoinduced birefringence, aiming at optical memories applications, was only observed for the azosubstituted homopolymer. The overall results indicate that the azosubstituted polythiophene is promising as active material for several applications, such as different types of sensors and security-labeling devices (AU)