Structure and properties of p-phenylenevinylene-p-xylylene copolymers prepared by vapor-deposition polymerization

• Published in: Polymer Science. Series A Vol. 54; no. 5; pp. 330 - 342
• Main Authors: Morozov, P. V., Grigor’ev, E. I., Zav’yalov, S. A., Klimenko, V. G., Chvalun, S. N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Dordrecht SP MAIK Nauka/Interperiodica 01.05.2012; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Chemistry; Chemistry and Materials Science; Copolymers; Copper; Polymer Sciences; Polymerization; Precursors; Pyrolysis; Spectra; Structure and Properties; Surface roughness; Vapor deposition; Polymer Science Series; Pyrolysis; Paracyclophane; Pyrolysis Zone; Stilbene
• ISSN: 0965-545X; 1555-6107
• DOI: 10.1134/S0965545X12050070

Films based on the p -phenylenevinylene- p -xylylene precursor are prepared via vapor-deposition polymerization during the pyrolysis of α, α′-dichloro- p -xylene on a copper grid in vacuum at substrate temperatures −196, 25, and 50°C. Subsequent annealing of the precursor at 250°C yields the final material: the copolymer of p -phenylenevinylene and p -xylylene. The structure, surface morphology, and optical properties of the copolymer are studied at different substrate temperatures and copper amounts in the pyrolysis zone. It is found that p -phenylenevinylene units mostly occur in trans configurations. The thermal treatment of the precursor is accompanied by an increase in the mean-square surface roughness and a decrease in roughness coefficient α from 0.84 ± 0.05 to 0.79 ± 0.05. As the content of copper in the pyrolysis zone increases, the concentration of p -xylylene fragments in the copolymer tends to increase; the band gap increases from −2.5 to 3.1 eV. Depending on synthesis conditions, the copolymer is characterized by a shift of the fluorescence spectrum maximum that achieves 150 nm in the visible spectral region.