Preparation and Properties of Oxadiazole-Containing Polyacetylenes as Electron Transport Materials

A series of functional polyacetylenes (PAs) bearing diphenyl oxadiazole pendant groups (P1-P4) were prepared, and the resultant polymers are completely soluble in common organic solvents. Their structures and properties were characterized and evaluated by DSC, TGA, UV, PL, CV, and EL analyses. The results show that all the resulting polymers possesses low LUMO energy level and high thermal stability, and the resultant functional polyacetylenes without spacer group between the polyacetylene conjugated main chain and oxadiazole pendant groups (P1-P3) show lower LUMO energy level (similar to-3.87 eV) and higher thermal properties (T-g) than that (P4) with a flexible spacer. The resultant polymer (P2) was applied as an ETM in bilayer electroluminescent devices and effectively enhances external quantum efficiency and the brightness of device, and decreases turn-on voltages of devices. (C) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 1406-1414, 2010