Side-chain liquid crystalline (LC) polyarylenevinylenes, poly-para-phenylen
evinylenes (PPVs) and polythienylenevinylenes (PTVs), have been synthesized
by introducing LC substituents into arylene units of main chains. Thermal
Liquid crystallinities of the polymers were elucidated through measurements
of polarizing optical microscope, differential scanning calorimeter and X-
ray diffraction. Macroscopic alignments of the polymers were carried out th
rough rubbing treatments under LC phases. The aligned polymer films showed
an enhancement in electrical conductivity as well as electrical anisotropy.
The aligned films also exhibited dichroism in fluorescence spectra, implyi
ng that they should be useful for novel linearly dichroic luminescent mater
ial.