Synthesis and characterization of side-chain thermotropic liquid crystalline copolymers containing regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene)

• Published in: Polymer (Guilford) Vol. 72; pp. 317 - 326
• Main Authors: Pathiranage, Taniya M.S.K., Magurudeniya, Harsha D., Bhatt, Mahesh P., Rainbolt, Elizabeth A., Biewer, Michael C., Stefan, Mihaela C.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 18.08.2015
• Subjects: Atom transfer radical polymerization; Block copolymers; Copolymers; Differential scanning calorimetry; Grignard metathesis; Liquid crystals; Polymerization; Self assembly; Semiconducting polymer; Synthesis; Tapping; Atom transfer radical polymerization; Semiconducting polymer; Grignard metathesis
• ISSN: 0032-3861; 1873-2291
• DOI: 10.1016/j.polymer.2015.04.005

An azobenzene liquid crystalline mesogen, 6-(4-((4-methoxyphenyl)diazenyl)phenoxy)hexyl methacrylate (MMAZO) was incorporated into a block copolymer with regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) (P3HT). The synthesis was performed by a combination of Grignard metathesis (GRIM) and atom transfer radical polymerization (ATRP) techniques. The composition of synthesized copolymers was determined from 1HNMR analysis. The P3HT block/random copolymers containing thermotropic liquid crystalline segments were expected to bring unique self-assembly and opto-electronic properties. The field-effect mobility of the P3HT copolymers was measured in organic thin film transistors (OTFT). The surface morphology of the P3HT copolymer films upon annealing was investigated by tapping mode atomic force microscopy (TMAFM). Finally, the transition of liquid crystalline mesophase in response to the temperature in the P3HT copolymers was investigated by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and polarizing optical microscopy (POM). [Display omitted] •A series of diblock and triblock copolymers containing P3HT were synthesized.•Field-effect mobility of copolymers was measured in organic thin film transistors.•Mesophases in response to temperature was investigated under cross polarization.•Effect on surface morphology upon annealing was investigated by TMAFM and UV–Vis.•Offer a promising route for fabrication of temperature-dependent optoelectronics.