Photo-, and electroluminescence studies of 2,5-bis[2′-(4″-(6-hexoxy benzyl))-1′-ethenyl]-3, 4-dibutyl thiophenes

We have synthesized a thiophene-based compound 2,5-bis[2′-(4″-(6-hexoxy benzyl))-1′-ethenyl]-3, 4-dibutyl thiophene (HBDT) and a copolymer poly(2,5-bis(2′-(4″-(6-hexoxy benzyl))-1′-ethenyl)-3,4-dibutyl thiophene-1,6-diisocyanatohexane) (HBDT-PU) consisting of alternating HBDT and urethane spacer units. Absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectra of the compounds coincide indicating that emission in HBDT-PU occurs from the thiophene containing unit. PL is emitted in the blue–green region with a maximum at 460 nm. Concentration quenching occurs in pure materials: PL efficiency is strongly enhanced when the compounds are dispersed in a polymer matrix like poly(N-vinyl carbozole) (PVK) or poly(methyl metacrylate) (PMMA). Light emitting devices were fabricated using a PVK:2-(4-biphenylyl)-5-(4-tert-butylphenyl)-1,3,4-oxadiazole (PBD) blend doped with HBDT as the emitter material. Efficient energy transfer from PVK:PBD to HBDT molecules takes place in blended films. The electroluminescence (EL) spectra coincided with the PL spectra of HBDT indicating that EL emission comes solely from HBDT molecules. The influence of the doping concentration on the EL efficiency was found to coincide with the concentration dependence of the PL quantum yield.