SPECTROSCOPIC STUDIES OF THE CONVERSION OF POLY(P-PHENYLENE-VINYLENE)PRECURSOR

Efforts are made to identify the irregular structures formed in poly(p henylene-vinylene) (PPV), obtained via the conversion of its sulfonium precursor by different physical and chemical methods. Analysis by X-r ay photoelectron spectroscopy and Fourier transform infra-red spectros copy reveals that the ketone structure is a common defect appearing in PPV whenever the conversion is carried out in the presence of oxygen. In contrast to the PPV obtained by pyrolysis of the precursor, the PP V obtained by treatment of the precursor with H2SO4 contains no chlori ne residue but much more sulfur residue. Ion bombardment of the sulfon ium precursor leads to a PPV containing no trace of sulfur or chlorine in the structure. Finally, the nature of bonding between the carbon a tom and oxygen, chlorine or sulfur atoms in PPV is discussed and irreg ular structures are proposed. Copyright (C) 1996 Elsevier Science Ltd.