Water soluble perylene diimide (PDI)-containing polymers were prepared by step-growth polymerization with partner dibromide or bis-sultone monomers. PDI derivatives containing tertiary amine moieties at the imide position enable these polymerizations, giving PDI-based products with tunable electronic properties. The solution photophysical behavior of these PDI-containing copolymers was studied by UV-vis, fluorescence, and time-resolved photoluminescence (TRPL) spectroscopy as a function of copolymer composition and additional functionality on the PDI aromatic core. This characterization revealed trends indicative of charge density dependence on inter-PDI interactions, as well as new excited states unique to these structures. The utility of these materials as electron transporting interfacial layers in perovskite and organic photovoltaic devices was assessed by ultra-violet photoelectron spectroscopy (UPS) to determine their ability to modify the work function of stable metal cathodes such as silver. This PDI-copolymer platform affords the unique opportunity to modulate conjugation and charge density within the polymers and examine their relationship to electronic energy level structure and interfacial dipole at metal interfaces.

Design of electronically-active polyionenes at organic/inorganic interfaces

253rd National Meeting (2017)

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