Synthesis,characterization, and photophysics of a novel conjugated polymer with 1,3,4‐oxadiazole,carbazole, and naphthalene units

A polymer containing 1,3,4‐oxadiazole and carbazole units in the main chain and naphthalene moieties as side groups (P‐OCN) was synthesized by the Wittig reaction of 2,5‐bis(3‐tolylene)1′,3′,4‐oxadiazole]‐9‐(α‐naphthyl)‐carbazole polymer (P‐OCN). The optical properties were investigated with ultraviolet–visible absorption and fluorescence emission spectra. The results showed that the luminescence quantum yield of P‐OCN was 0.673 in chloroform, and it emitted blue and blue‐green light with a band gap of 3.49 eV estimated from the onset absorption. Thermogravimetric analysis and differential scanning calorimetry showed that the polymer exhibited good thermal stability up to 354°C with a glass‐transition temperature higher than 110°C. To investigate the donating and accepting capacities of P‐OCN, the fluorescent quenching technique was used to determinate the interactions between the polymer and the electron donor and electron acceptor. The results showed that the light emission could be quenched by both the electron donor (N,N‐dimethylaniline) and electron acceptor (dimethylterephthalate). Furthermore, the interaction between P‐OCN and fullerene was also studied with fluorescent quenching, and the processes followed the Stern–Volmer equation. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci, 2008