Synthesis and optical properties of fluorene and p-phenylenevinylene copolymers containing non-conjugated spacer

A series of alternating fluorene and p-phenylenevinylene copolymers containing non-conjugated spacer have been synthesized through the Wittig polycondensation reaction. These amorphous copolymers are highly soluble in common organic solvents and can be spin-cast to obtain transparent films. The effects of non-conjugated spacers in the main chain and the methoxyl groups on the side chain on the thermal behavior, photoluminescence (PL) and electroluminescence (EL) properties of these copolymers have been investigated in detail. Single-layered light-emitting diodes (LEDs) have been fabricated in the configuration of ITO/PEDOT/copolymer/Ca/Al and emitted blue light in the range of 456–492 nm. The measurements of current vs voltage show turn-on voltages at 6.2–12.4 V. Among the LEDs based on the six copolymers, the maximum EL brightness and efficiency of the LED based on P1 containing 4CH2 aliphatic segment length in the main chain and without methoxyl groups on side chain are reached 3936 cd/m2 and 0.70 cd/A, respectively.