Synthesis and characterization of a new green-emitting poly(phenylenevinylene) derivative containing alkylsilylphenyl pendant

A new type of processable green-emissive polymer containing alkylsilylpheny l units was synthesized via Gilch polymerization. The resulting polymer was soluble in organic solvents and was spin-cast to make a thin film. A light -emitting diode was fabricated by the polymer being sandwiched between indi um tin oxide and metal electrodes. A strong green emission at 524 nm was ob served from the various device configurations made by the newly synthesized polymer. The polymer had a strong absorption band around 427 nm that was a ttributable to a pi-pi*: transition of the conjugated segments of the polym er. A current-voltage-luminance curve showed typical rectifying diode chara cteristics. The polymer had a very high molecular weight (number-average mo lecular weight = similar to 300,000) with a polydispersity of about 3 and g ood thermal stability up to 400 degreesC. The brightness at 13 and 17 V was about 1000 and 5900 cd/m(2), respectively. (C) 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc .