Tuneable emission from disordered to ordered aggregates in substituted 9,10-dihydroanthracene polymers

Area of Science:

• Polymer Science
• Photophysics
• Materials Chemistry

Background:

• Polymers containing 9,10-dihydroanthracene and oligothiophenyl units are known for their photoluminescent properties.
• Solvent-induced aggregation is a common method to alter polymer morphology and optical characteristics.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the fluorescence behavior of polymers with 9,10-dihydroanthracene and oligothiophenyl units during solvent-induced aggregation.
• To understand the origins of unusual emission features observed in these polymer systems.

Main Methods:

• Synthesis of polymers incorporating 9,10-dihydroanthracene and oligothiophenyl moieties.
• Solvent-induced aggregation experiments.
• Time-resolved fluorescence spectroscopy using a streak camera.
• Spectral deconvolution analysis.

Main Results:

• The study revealed complex fluorescence dynamics upon solvent-induced aggregation.
• Multiple distinct polymer aggregate species were identified.
• Each aggregate species exhibited unique photophysical characteristics.
• These distinct species collectively explain the observed unusual emission patterns.

Conclusions:

• The fluorescence behavior of these polymers is highly dependent on aggregate formation.
• The presence of multiple aggregate species with varying properties is key to understanding their photophysics.
• This work provides insights into the design of functional polymers with tunable optical properties.