Synthesis of Poly(3-Hexylthiophene) with High Molecular Weight and Small Polydispersity

Abstract:

Regioregular head-tail poly(3-hexylthiophenes) (HT-P3HT) with a controlled high molecular weight and a small polydispersity have been synthesized via an improved Kumada catalyst-transfer polycondensation (KCTP) by using the new-prepared hexylmagnesium bromide as the Grignard reagent. As the amount of nickel catalyst dichloro[1,3-diphenylphosphinopropane] nickel (Ni(dppp)Cl2) was 0.5% mol of the amount of monomer 2,5-dibromo-3-hexylthiophene (DBHT) we can obtain a HT-P3HT with a high molecular weight Mn (38 449) and a small polydspersity (1.18). By using of LiCl as a co-catalyst, the regioregularity of the P3HT with high molecular weight (40 270) is maintained and the PDI (1.03) is smaller than that of the P3HT polymerized in the absence of LiCl but the conversion ratio of the monomer is promoted. The HT-P3HT with high molecular weight and small polydispersity will be an attractive candidate applied in solar cells.

• Periodical: Advanced Materials Research (Volumes 616-618)
• Pages: 1693-1696
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.4028/www.scientific.net/AMR.616-618.1693
• Online since: December 2012
• Authors: Yu Mei Gong, Ling Ming Xia, Jing Chuan Song, Qing Liang
• Keywords: High Molecular Weight, Poly(3-hexylthiophene), Small Polydispersity

References

[1] A. R. Murphy, J. Liu, C. Luscombe, D. Kavulak, J. M. J. Frchet, R. J. Kline, and M. D. McGehee: Chem Mater 2005, 17, 4892.

[2] C. J. Brabec, C. Winder, N. S. Sariciftci, J. C. Hummelen, A. Dhanabalan, P. A. van Hal, and R. A. J. Janssen: Adv Funct Mater 2002, 12, 709.

DOI: 10.1002/1616-3028(20021016)12:10<709::aid-adfm709>3.0.co;2-n

[3] G. Dennler, M. C. Scharber, and C. J. Brabec:, Adv Mater 2009, 21, 1323.

[4] R. D. McCullough: Adv Mater 1998, 10, 93-116.

[5] R. S. Loewe, S. M. Khersonsky, and R. D. McCullough: Adv Mater 1999, 11, 250.

[6] R. J. Kline, M. D. McGehee, E. N. Kadnikova, J. Liu, J. Frechet, and M. F. Toney: Macromolecules 2005, 38, 3312.

[7] P. Schilinsky, U. Asawapirom, U. Scherf, M. Biele, and C. J. Brabec: Chem Mater 2005, 17, 2175.

[8] S. P. Wu, H. Li, H. K. Tian, Y.H. Geng, and F. S.Wang: Macromolecules 2011, 44, 7558.