Hollow microspherical carbazole-based conjugated polymers by photoinduced step-growth polymerization

Celiker T., Suerkan A., ALTINIŞIK S., Akgun M., KOYUNCU S., Yağcı Y.

POLYMER CHEMISTRY, vol.12, pp.4654-4660, 2021 (SCI-Expanded) identifier identifier

  • Publication Type: Article / Article
  • Volume: 12
  • Publication Date: 2021
  • Doi Number: 10.1039/d1py00822f
  • Journal Name: POLYMER CHEMISTRY
  • Journal Indexes: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, Biotechnology Research Abstracts, Chemical Abstracts Core, Chimica, Compendex, INSPEC
  • Page Numbers: pp.4654-4660
  • Istanbul Technical University Affiliated: Yes

Abstract

A new photochemical approach for the synthesis of metal-free three-dimensional hollow spherical conjugated polymers is described. Irradiation of solutions containing a specially designed monomer, namely 4,4 '-bis(N-carbazolyl)-1,1 '-biphenyl (CBP) possessing both carbazole and biphenyl units, in the presence of iodonium salt (Ph2I+PF6-) at 350 nm resulted in the formation of a dark colored corresponding polymer, poly(4,4 '-bis(N-carbazolyl)-1,1 '-biphenyl) (PCBP). Polymerization proceeds through a step-growth mechanism by successive electron transfer between CBP and the iodonium ion within the photochemically formed exciplex, proton release and radical coupling reactions. The obtained polymers were characterized by UV-vis, H-1-NMR, GPC, CV and BET analyses. Dedoping of self-assembled microspheres with a significant distance resulted in more uniform spherical formations as evidenced by AFM and TEM investigations.