Novel photoluminescent polymers containing oligothiophene and m-phenylene-1,3,4-oxadiazole moieties: Synthesis and spectroscopic and electrochemical studies

Three conjugated polymers containing oligothiophene units (from one to three thiophene rings) and aromatic 1,3,4-oxadiazole moieties have been successfully synthesized. The polymer structures were characterized and confirmed by ¹H and ¹³C NMR, FT-IR, and elemental analysis. Thermogravimetric analysis demonstrated that the polymers are highly thermal stable. Tunable absorption (from 342 to 428 nm) and fluorescence (from 411 to 558 nm) properties of polymers were observed: The electrochemical investigation indicated that the LUMO and HOMO energy levels of the new polymers could be adjusted. It was also revealed by the electrochemical analysis that the polymers have good charge injection properties for both p-type and n-type charge carriers, as well as good color tunable luminescence and film-forming properties, which makes them potentially useful for fabricating efficient light-emitting devices.