Synthesis and characterization of luminescent copolyethers with alternate stilbene derivatives and aromatic 1,3,4-oxadiazoles

New copoly(aryl ether)s containing alternate stilbene (P1), distyrylbenzene (P2), or distyrylstilbene (P3) chromophores and aromatic 1,3,4-oxadiazole were prepared by nucleophilic polycondensation. The copolyethers are basically amorphous materials with decomposition temperature greater than 250 degreesC. Introduction of side hexyloxy groups to distyrylbenzene chromophores in P2 significantly enhanced its solubility in common organic solvents such as toluene, THF, and chloroform. UV/visible and fluorescence spectrometers were employed to investigate their optical properties both in solution and in film state, whereas cyclic voltammograms were used to estimate their band diagrams. Photolummescence maxima of P1, P2 and P3 are 442, 540 and 528 nm, respectively. Oxadiazole chromophores in backbone enhance electron affinity, whereas pendant hexyloxy groups decrease ionization potential. The threshold voltage and luminance of ITO/P2 (100 nm)/Al single layer device are 17 V and 950 cd/m(2), respectively. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.