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ABSTRACT
In the past decades, π-conjugated polymers including polyaniline (PANI), polycarbazole (PCz) and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), have roused much attention and been widely applied in high-performance organic semiconductors on account of their unique electronic, optoelectronic, electrochemical, and mechanical properties. Herein, two kinds of alternating copolymers, poly[(N-(2-ethylhexyl)carbazole-3,6-diyl)-(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene-2,5-diyl)] (P(3,6-Cz-EDOT)) and poly[(N-(2-ethylhexyl)diphenylamine-4,4′-diyl)-(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene-2,5-diyl)] (P(4,4′-DPA-EDOT)) were subtly designed and synthesized via direct (hetero)arene polymerization (DHAP) in good yields (up to 88% and 90%, respectively) and high molecular weights (up to 8400 and 24100 Da, respectively). The photophysical, electrochemical, thermal and morphological properties of P(3,6-Cz-EDOT) and P(4,4′-DPA-EDOT) were systematically investigated based on experimental analysis and theoretical simulations. As compared to P(4,4′-DPA-EDOT), P(3,6-Cz-EDOT) exhibited shorter π-conjugation, a higher glass transition temperature (Tg), better thermal stability, more porous morphology and a preferably curved or spiral conformation. Moreover, both P(3,6-Cz-EDOT) and P(4,4′-DPA-EDOT) possessed high specific discharge capacities, indicating their potential applications in solution-processed charge-storage devices.
Graphical abstract
Disclosure statement
The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest.
Author contributions
QG and JL conceived the research and supervised the whole work. JZ, XL, and HL prepared materials and characterized the NMR and GPC. QG and XL contributed to the theoretical calculations. LT, HG, and SW contributed to the characterization of the photophysical and electrochemical properties. All authors contributed to the manuscript revision and approved the submitted version.
Qiang Guo
Dr. Qiang Guo is a teacher in Chengdu University of Information Technology. His research interests include design, synthesis, and fabrication of π-conjugated organic materials.
Jincheng Zhang
Mr. Jincheng Zhang is currently a postgraduate student in Chengdu University of Information Technology.
Xiaoyu Li
Dr. Xiaoyu Li is a teacher in Southwest University of Science and Technology.
Hui Liu
Dr. Hui Liu is a teacher in Chengdu University of Information Technology.
Li Tao
Dr. Li Tao is a teacher in Chengdu University of Information Technology.
Heqi Gong
Mr. Heqi Gong is a postgraduate student in Chengdu University of Information Technology.
Shuanghong Wu
Dr. Shuanghong Wu is a professor in University of Electronic Science and Technology of China.
Jie Li
Dr. Jie Li is a professor in Chengdu University of Information Technology. His research interests include design, synthesis, and fabrication of π-conjugated organic materials.