Conjugated Polymer Nanoparticles by Suzuki–Miyaura Cross-Coupling Reactions in an Emulsion at Room Temperature

Abstract

A range of stable emulsions of spherical and rod-like conjugated polymer nanoparticles (CPN) were synthesized via Suzuki−Miyaura cross-coupling reactions of 9,9-dioctylfluorene-2,7-diboronic acid bis(1,3-propanediol) ester with a number of different dibromoarene monomers in xylene, stabilized in water by the nonionic surfactant, Triton X-102. High molar mass poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene) (PF8), poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-alt-benzothiadiazole) (PF8BT), poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-alt-4-sec-butylphenyldiphenylamine) (PF8TAA) and poly(9,9-dioctylfluorene-alt-bithiophene) (PF8T2) emulsions were obtained, at high overall conjugated polymer concentrations (up to 11,000 ppm), in the presence of the palladium complex, (IPr*)PdCl2(TEA) and base, tetraethylammonium hydroxide, in nitrogen atmosphere at 30 °C after 24–48 h. TEM analysis of the PF8 and PF8T2 emulsions revealed regular rod-like structures, up to 200 nm in length with aspect ratios of 4–5. PF8BT and PF8TAA formed spherical particles with diameters of between 20–40 nm in TEM analysis. UV–vis absorption spectra of the PF8 emulsions indicated high levels of ordered β-phase configuration (9–10%) in their respective nanoparticles. Absolute photoluminescence quantum yields (Φ) of 21–25% were recorded for these emulsions.

Intramolecular charge-transfer emission from conjugated polymer nanoparticles: the terminal group effect on electronic and optical properties

“…[5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] However, compared with typical QDs, the post-functionalization of CPNs is difficult because most of them consist of linear conjugated polymers without functional groups. [5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12] However, compared with typical QDs, the post-functionalization of CPNs is difficult because most of them consist of linear conjugated polymers without functional groups.…”

Anisotropic Polymer Nanoparticles with Tunable Emission Wavelengths by Intersegmental Chain Packing

“…[9] Commonly,C PNs are prepared by post-polymerization dispersion techniques, [5,6,10] or also by heterophase polymerizations. [7,8,11,12] Both approaches have in common that, with very few exceptions, [10,11] exclusively spherical CPNs are obtained.…”

Three dimensional PEDOT nanowires network

“…There are several methods to produce polymer nanostructures. The most commonly used are: electron beam lithography and optical lithography [5], soft template [4,[6][7][8] and finally hard template [9,10]. The last two methods have become very important in the development of many strategies to nanostructure polymeric materials.…”

“…The typical synthesis is carried out in two different phases, both immiscible. This method includes micro-emulsion [6], mini-emulsion [7] and emulsion polymerization [8]. The hard template procedure uses a rigid material as a template to produce the nanostructures.…”