A derivative of poly (m-phenylene vinylene-co-2, 5-dioctyloxy-p-phenylene vinylene) is synthesized using two types of condensation polymerisation reactions, namely Horner-Eammons and Wittig, in three different solvents, toluene, dimethhylformamide (DMF) and chlorobenzene. Although the derivatives formed by each reaction have the same chemical composition it is found that their chemical and optical properties vary. NMR studies show that the morphologies of the polymers are different, due to the differences in cis-trans bond ratio of the vinylene bonds. It is found that the derivatives produced by Horner condensation contain a majority of trans bonds and these derivatives show different spectral characteristics to the Wittig derivatives. The ability of the polymers to disperse carbon nanotubes is also studied. Here, not only is the synthetic route important, but the solvent used also plays a role. The derivatives that are produced by the Horner condensation route in DMF or chlorobenzene are found to have the best binding capabilities with carbon nanotubes.

Date Published: 27 August 2003
PDF: 10 pages
Proc. SPIE 4876, Opto-Ireland 2002: Optics and Photonics Technologies and Applications, (27 August 2003); doi: 10.1117/12.463689

Published in SPIE Proceedings Vol. 4876:
Opto-Ireland 2002: Optics and Photonics Technologies and Applications
Vincent Toal; Norman Douglas McMillan; Gerard M. O'Connor; Eon O'Mongain; Austin F. Duke; John F. Donegan; James A. McLaughlin; Brian D. MacCraith; Werner J. Blau, Editor(s)