Synthesis and characterization of new electroluminescent poly(p-phenylene) derivative

A new electroluminescent poly(p-phenylene) (PPP)-type polymer (CHALC-PPP) incorporating chalcone-type groups as side-chains has been synthesized via a chemical modification of a precursor acyl-functionalized polymer. The chemical structure of the polymer was characterized by 1H NMR, 13C NMR, and FT-IR spectroscopic analysis. CHALC-PPP contains a substitution ratio of 40% of vinylaryl groups. It is fully soluble in common organic solvents and has a number–average molecular weight of 3750 g/mol. CHALC-PPP thin solid film absorbs in UV and emits in the green region with a maximum at 512 nm. From the cyclic voltammetry analysis, the HOMO and LUMO energies levels values are −5.67 and −2.70 eV, respectively. A multilayer diode device with the configuration ITO/PEDOT:PSS/CHALC-PPP/BCP/Al emitting a green light has been fabricated.