Multifunctional copolyfluorene containing pendant benzimidazolyl groups: applications in chemical sensors and electroluminescent devices

Abstract

This paper demonstrates the synthesis of a copolyfluorene (PFBI), containing pendant benzimidazolyl groups, from a poly[(9,9-dihexylfluorene)-alt-(9,9-dibromopentylfluorene)] (PFBr) and its chemosensory and electroluminescent characteristics. The PFBI is readily soluble in common organic solvents, such as chloroform and tetrahydrofuran, and it exhibits good thermal stability (T_d > 400 °C) and high glass transition temperature (T_g > 100 °C). Absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectra of PFBr and PFBI show main peaks at 389 nm and 420 nm, respectively. The solution fluorescence of PFBI is selectively and dramatically quenched by Cu²⁺ ions with very high sensitivity (Stern–Volmer coefficient K_sv = 2.6 × 10⁶ M⁻¹), however, it is partially quenched in the presence of Zn²⁺ or Cd²⁺ ions accompanied by a 16 nm red-shift. Protonic acids also quench the fluorescence accompanied with a red-shift. Blending the functional copolyfluorene PFBI with MEH-PPV results in significant enhancement of device performance (9820 cd m⁻² and 0.65 cd A⁻¹) [ITO/PEDOT:PSS/MEH-PPV + PFBI/Ca (50 nm)/Al (100 nm)]. The results show that polyfluorene with pendant benzimidazolyl groups is a potential candidate for selective detection of Cu²⁺ and as additives to enhance the performance of MEH-PPV.