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Published on: June 18, 2013
Highly photoconducting π-stacked polymer accommodated in coordination nanochannels
Takashi Uemura1, Noriyuki Uchida, Atsushi Asano
1Department of Synthetic Chemistry and Biological Chemistry, Graduate School of Engineering, Kyoto University, Katsura, Nishikyo-ku, Japan. uemura@sbchem.kyoto-u.ac.jp
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|May 12, 2012
Summary
We confined poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVCz) chains in nanochannels, enhancing hole mobility by 5 orders of magnitude due to π-stacked carbazolyl groups. This effect persisted even after removing the PVCz chains from the nanochannels.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Polymer Chemistry
- Nanotechnology
Background:
- Poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVCz) is a semiconducting polymer with potential applications in organic electronics.
- Controlling polymer conformation at the nanoscale is crucial for optimizing charge transport properties.
- Coordination polymers offer tunable nanochannels for confining and organizing polymer chains.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the formation and properties of single poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVCz) chains confined within one-dimensional coordination nanochannels.
- To elucidate the relationship between the confined polymer conformation and its charge transport characteristics, specifically hole mobility.
- To determine if the enhanced properties of confined PVCz persist after removal from the nanochannels.
Main Methods:
- Synthesis of a lanthanum-based coordination polymer, [La(1,3,5-benzenetrisbenzoate)](n), featuring one-dimensional channels.
- In-situ confinement of single poly(N-vinylcarbazole) (PVCz) chains within the coordination nanochannels.
- Characterization of the confined PVCz conformation, focusing on the π-stacking of carbazolyl groups.
- Measurement of hole mobility in both confined PVCz and isolated PVCz using electrical techniques.
Main Results:
- Successful formation of single PVCz chains within the 1D channels of the coordination polymer.
- Observation of effective π-stacking of carbazolyl side groups along the confined PVCz chains.
- A significant increase in hole mobility (5 orders of magnitude) for confined PVCz compared to the bulk state.
- Sustained high hole mobility in PVCz chains even after isolation from the nanochannels.
Conclusions:
- The one-dimensional channels of [La(1,3,5-benzenetrisbenzoate)](n) induce an ideal conformation in PVCz, promoting π-stacking and enhancing hole mobility.
- Confinement within coordination nanochannels offers a viable strategy for significantly boosting the electronic properties of semiconducting polymers.
- The observed persistent high mobility suggests that the induced conformation has a lasting effect on PVCz, opening possibilities for post-processing applications.
