Light-emitting properties of PMMA-based new side chain polymers

A series of PMMA-based new side chain fluorescent polymers have been synthesized through radical polymerization. Carbazole containing phenylenevinylene units are attached to PMMA side chain as lumophores, and electronegative nitrile groups were selectively introduced to the double bonds of the lumophores in order to investigate the effects on photoluminescence (PL) and EL properties. The synthesized polymers were soluble in common organic solvents without evidence of gel formation. The number of average molecular weights of resulting copolymers were determined by GPC in the range of 14000–23000 depending on the polymer structure. PL peak wavelengths of the polymers were varied from 530 to 470 nm depending on the polymer structure. Single layer EL devices using the polymers were fabricated. Light-emission from the devices becomes visible between 15 and 20 V and maximum brightness of the devices has been measured to be between 10 and 20 cd/m2 depending on the device structure.