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A New Solution to an Old Problem: Synthesis of Unsubstituted Poly(para-phenylene)
Ali Abdulkarim1,2,3, Felix Hinkel2,4, Daniel Jänsch1,2
1InnovationLab , Speyererstr. 4, 69115 Heidelberg, Germany.
Journal of the American Chemical Society
|December 10, 2016
Summary
Researchers developed a new method to synthesize pristine poly(para-phenylene) (PPP), a key organic semiconductor. This breakthrough enables the creation of high-quality, fluorescent PPP films for advanced electronic applications.
Area of Science:
- Polymer Chemistry
- Organic Electronics
- Materials Science
Background:
- Poly(para-phenylene) (PPP) is a crucial conjugated polymer for organic electronics.
- Synthesizing unsubstituted, high-molecular-weight PPP has been a significant challenge.
- Existing methods have failed to produce pristine PPP.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a reliable synthetic route for unsubstituted, well-defined poly(para-phenylene).
- To enable the processing of PPP into high-quality thin films.
- To achieve highly fluorescent PPP with controlled structure and length.
Main Methods:
- A versatile precursor route involving Suzuki polymerization of kinked disubstituted 1,4-dimethoxycyclohexadienylene monomers.
- Processing of the soluble precursor polymer into nanometer-thick films via spin-coating.
- Additive-free thermal treatment to induce aromatization and form the final PPP.
Main Results:
- Successfully synthesized a well-soluble, nonaromatic precursor polymer.
- Produced exclusively para-connected, highly fluorescent PPP films.
- Achieved PPP chains with an average length of approximately 75 phenylene units.
Conclusions:
- The developed precursor route overcomes previous synthetic limitations for unsubstituted PPP.
- This method allows for the creation of processable, high-quality PPP films.
- The resulting PPP exhibits excellent fluorescence and structural definition, suitable for organic semiconductor applications.
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