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Now showing 1 - 8 of 8
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    Effects of PNDIT2 end groups on aggregation, thin film structure, alignment and electron transport in field-effect transistors
    (London [u.a.] : RSC, 2016) Matsidik, Rukiya; Luzio, Alessandro; Hameury, Sophie; Komber, Hartmut; McNeill, Christopher R.; Caironi, Mario; Sommer, Michael
    To develop greener protocols toward the sustainable production of conjugated polymers, we combine the advantages of atom-economic direct arylation polycondensation (DAP) with those of the green solvent 2-methyltetrahydrofuran (MeTHF). The n-type copolymer PNDIT2 is synthesized from unsubstituted bithiophene (T2) and 2,6-dibromonapthalene diimide (NDIBr2) under simple DAP conditions in MeTHF. Extensive optimization is required to suppress nucleophilic substitution of NDIBr end groups, which severely limits molar mass. Different carboxylic acids, bases, palladium precursors and ligands are successfully screened to enable quantitative yield and satisfyingly high molar masses up to Mn,SEC ∼ 20 kDa. In contrast to PNDIT2 made via DAP in toluene with tolyl-chain termini, nucleophilic substitution of NDIBr chain ends in MeTHF finally leads to NDI-OH termination. The influence of different chain termini on the optical, thermal, structural and electronic properties of PNDIT2 is investigated. For samples with identical molecular weight, OH-termination leads to slightly reduced aggregation in solution and bulk crystallinity, a decreased degree of alignment in directionally deposited films, and a consequently reduced, but not compromised, electron mobility with promising values still close to 0.9 cm2 V−1 s−1.
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    Defect-free Naphthalene Diimide Bithiophene Copolymers with Controlled Molar Mass and High Performance via Direct Arylation Polycondensation
    (Washington, DC : ACS Publications, 2015) Matsidik, Rukiya; Komber, Hartmut; Luzio, Alessandro; Caironi, Mario; Sommer, Michael
    A highly efficient, simple, and environmentally friendly protocol for the synthesis of an alternating naphthalene diimide bithiophene copolymer (PNDIT2) via direct arylation polycondensation (DAP) is presented. High molecular weight (MW) PNDIT2 can be obtained in quantitative yield using aromatic solvents. Most critical is the suppression of two major termination reactions of NDIBr end groups: nucleophilic substitution and solvent end-capping by aromatic solvents via C–H activation. In situ solvent end-capping can be used to control MW by varying monomer concentration, whereby end-capping is efficient and MW is low for low concentration and vice versa. Reducing C–H reactivity of the solvent at optimized conditions further increases MW. Chain perfection of PNDIT2 is demonstrated in detail by NMR spectroscopy, which reveals PNDIT2 chains to be fully linear and alternating. This is further confirmed by investigating the optical and thermal properties as a function of MW, which saturate at Mn ≈ 20 kDa, in agreement with controls made by Stille coupling. Field-effect transistor (FET) electron mobilities μsat up to 3 cm2/(V·s) are measured using off-center spin-coating, with FET devices made from DAP PNDIT2 exhibiting better reproducibility compared to Stille controls.
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    Entropy driven chain effects on ligation chemistry
    (Cambridge : RSC, 2014) Pahnke, Kai; Brandt, Josef; Gryn'ova, Ganna; Lindner, Peter; Schweins, Ralf; Schmidt, Friedrich Georg; Lederer, Albena; Coote, Michelle L.; Barner-Kowollik, Christopher
    We report the investigation of fundamental entropic chain effects that enable the tuning of modular ligation chemistry – for example dynamic Diels–Alder (DA) reactions in materials applications – not only classically via the chemistry of the applied reaction sites, but also via the physical and steric properties of the molecules that are being joined. Having a substantial impact on the reaction equilibrium of the reversible ligation chemistry, these effects are important when transferring reactions from small molecule studies to larger or other entropically very dissimilar systems. The effects on the DA equilibrium and thus the temperature dependent degree of debonding (%debond) of different cyclopentadienyl (di-)functional poly(meth-)acrylate backbones (poly(methyl methacrylate), poly(iso-butyl methacrylate), poly(tert-butyl methacrylate), poly(iso-butyl acrylate), poly(n-butyl acrylate), poly(tert-butyl acrylate), poly(methyl acrylate) and poly(isobornyl acrylate)), linked via a difunctional cyanodithioester (CDTE) were examined via high temperature (HT) NMR spectroscopy as well as temperature dependent (TD) SEC measurements. A significant impact of not only chain mass and length with a difference in the degree of debonding of up to 30% for different lengths of macromonomers of the same polymer type but – remarkably – as well the chain stiffness with a difference in bonding degrees of nearly 20% for isomeric poly(butyl acrylates) is found. The results were predicted, reproduced and interpreted via quantum chemical calculations, leading to a better understanding of the underlying entropic principles.
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    Naphtalenediimide-based donor-acceptor copolymer prepared by chain-growth catalyst-transfer polycondensation: Evaluation of electron-transporting properties and application in printed polymer transistors
    (London [u.a.] : Royal Society of Chemistry, 2014) Schmidt, G.C.; Höft, D.; Haase, K.; Hübler, A.C.; Karpov, E.; Tkachov, R.; Stamm, M.; Kiriy, A.; Haidu, F.; Zahn, D.R.T.; Yan, H.; Facchetti, A.
    The semiconducting properties of a bithiophene-naphthalene diimide copolymer (PNDIT2) prepared by Ni-catalyzed chain-growth polycondensation (P1) and commercially available N2200 synthesized by Pd-catalyzed step-growth polycondensation were compared. Both polymers show similar electron mobility of ∼0.2 cm2 V-1 s-1, as measured in top-gate OFETs with Au source/drain electrodes. It is noteworthy that the new synthesis has several technological advantages compared to traditional Stille polycondensation, as it proceeds rapidly at room temperature and does not involve toxic tin-based monomers. Furthermore, a step forward to fully printed polymeric devices was achieved. To this end, transistors with PEDOT:PSS source/drain electrodes were fabricated on plastic foils by means of mass printing technologies in a roll-to-roll printing press. Surface treatment of the printed electrodes with PEIE, which reduces the work function of PEDOT:PSS, was essential to lower the threshold voltage and achieve high electron mobility. Fully polymeric P1 and N2200-based OFETs achieved average linear and saturation FET mobilities of >0.08 cm2 V-1 s-1. Hence, the performance of n-type, plastic OFET devices prepared in ambient laboratory conditions approaches those achieved by more sophisticated and expensive technologies, utilizing gold electrodes and time/energy consuming thermal annealing and lithographic steps.
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    SET-LRP in biphasic mixtures of fluorinated alcohols with water
    (Cambridge : RSC Publ., 2018) Moreno, Adrian; Liu, Tong; Ding, Liang; Buzzacchera, Irene; Galià, Marina; Möller, Martin; Wilson, Christopher J.; Lligadas, Gerard; Percec, Virgil
    Biphasic-binary mixtures of 2,2,2-trifluoroethanol (TFE) or 2,2,3,3-tetrafluoropropanol (TFP) with water were used as reaction media to synthesize well-defined poly(methyl acrylate) (PMA) with chain end functionality close to 100% by SET-LRP. Non-activated Cu(0) wire was used as a catalyst, taking advantage of the Cu(0)-activation property that these fluorinated alcohols possess. Biphasic-binary mixtures of water, containing a ligand and Cu(II)Br2 either generated by disproportionation of Cu(I)Br or externally added, and an organic solvent, containing a monomer and a polymer, were studied. Two N-ligands were investigated: the classic tris(2-dimethylaminoethyl)amine (Me6-TREN) and tris(2-aminoethyl)amine (TREN), as a more economically attractive alternative for technological purposes. The results reported here support the replacement of Me6-TREN by TREN, taking into account the fact that the latter requires small loadings of an externally added Cu(II)Br2 deactivator and a ligand in the water phase to mediate a living radical polymerization process. Both catalytic systems ensure efficient SET-LRP processes with first order kinetics to high conversion, linear dependence of experimental Mn on conversion, narrow molecular weight distribution, and near-quantitative chain end functionality.
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    Strong field ionization of small hydrocarbon chains with full 3D momentum analysis
    (Bristol : IOP Publ., 2015) Schulz, Claus Peter; Birkner, Sascha; Furch, Federico J.; Anderson, Alexandria; Mikosch, Jochen; Schell, Felix; Vrakking, Marc J. J.
    Strong field ionization of small hydrocarbon chains is studied in a kinematic complete experiment using a reaction microscope. By coincidence detection of ions and electrons different ionization continua populated during the ionization process are identified. In addition, photoelectron momentum distributions from laser-aligned molecules allow to characterize the electron wavepackets emerging from different Dyson orbitals.
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    Direct catalytic conversion of cellulose to liquid straight-chain alkanes
    (Cambridge : Royal Society of Chemistry, 2014) Op de Beeck, Beau; Dusselier, Michiel; Geboers, Jan; Holsbeek, Jensen; Morré, Eline; Oswald, Steffen; Giebeler, Lars; Sels, Bert F.
    High yields of liquid straight-chain alkanes were obtained directly from cellulosic feedstock in a one-pot biphasic catalytic system. The catalytic reaction proceeds at elevated temperatures under hydrogen pressure in the presence of tungstosilicic acid, dissolved in the aqueous phase, and modified Ru/C, suspended in the organic phase. Tungstosilicic acid is primarily responsible for cellulose hydrolysis and dehydration steps, while the modified Ru/C selectively hydrogenates intermediates en route to the liquid alkanes. Under optimal conditions, microcrystalline cellulose is converted to 82% n-decane-soluble products, mainly n-hexane, within a few hours, with a minimum formation of gaseous and char products. The dominant route to the liquid alkanes proceeds via 5-hydroxymethylfurfural (HMF), whereas the more common pathway via sorbitol appears to be less efficient. High liquid alkane yields were possible through (i) selective conversion of cellulose to glucose and further to HMF by gradually heating the reactor, (ii) a proper hydrothermal modification of commercial Ru/C to tune its chemoselectivity to furan hydrogenation rather than glucose hydrogenation, and (iii) the use of a biphasic reaction system with optimal partitioning of the intermediates and catalytic reactions. The catalytic system is capable of converting subsequent batches of fresh cellulose, enabling accumulation of the liquid alkanes in the organic phase during subsequent runs. Its robustness is illustrated in the conversion of the raw (soft)wood sawdust.
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    Synthesis and characterization of new photoswitchable azobenzene-containing poly(ε-caprolactones)
    (London : RSC Publishing, 2016) Appiah, Clement; Siefermann, Katrin R.; Jorewitz, Marcel; Barqawi, Haitham; Binder, Wolfgang H.
    A novel and efficient strategy in obtaining series of mono- and bi-armed azobenzene-containing poly(ε-caprolactone)s is described, starting from a commercially available azobenzene dye via azide/alkyne-“click”-reactions. The attachment of alkyne-telechelic poly(ε-caprolactone)s (1 kDa and 3 kDa), followed by chromatographic separation, allowed the attachment of either one or two PCl-chains to either side of the azobenzene-dye. The resulting mono- and bi-armed photo-switchable polymers are fully characterized by 2D-NMR techniques and show a high thermal stability. Additionally liquid chromatography at critical conditions (LCCC) coupled to ESI-TOF allowed us to prove the presence of either one or two polymer chains affixed onto the central azobenzene dye.