A novel brush polymer consisting of a polynorbonene backbone with perylene diimide (PDI) pendant groups has been synthesized via ring opening polymerization (ROMP) by employing the first-generation Grubbs' catalyst. By creating polymeric materials that incorporate PDI functionalities, the desirable properties of polymers such as pendant group preorganization and ease of processing into thin films, can be combined with the electronic and photophysical properties inherent to PDI small molecules. The PDI pendant groups along the polymer backbone show evidence of aggregation with neighboring groups, which forms pathways for efficient electron transport from one group to another. The polymer also shows self-assembly characteristics when different solvents are used for spectroscopic measurements. The synthesis, polymerization, and subsequent characterization of this PDI functionalized ROMP polymer, as well as aggregation studies among PDI moieties, have been investigated by photophysical and electrochemical methods and will be presented.

Aggregation behavior of perylene diimide functionalized brush polymers: Implications for electron transport in organic electronics

244th National Meeting (2012)

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