Abstract
A series of well-defined aniline-chain-end-functionalized regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene)s (P3HT-NH2) have been successfully synthesized on the basis of Grignard metathesis polymerization. The molecular weights of P3HT-NH2 could be varied from 1960 to 28 000 g mol−1, with low polydispersity indices in the range of 1.06–1.29, as determined by gel permeation chromotography. The selectivity of monofunctionalization reactions and the high degrees of amine functionality (85–92%) were confirmed by Matrix-assisted laser desorption ionization time-of-flight mass spectroscopy. Block copolymers through ionic interaction were successfully synthesized by simply blending P3HT-NH2 with carboxy chain-end-functionalized polystyrene, which was prepared on the basis of living anionic polymerization. The thermal and optical properties of block copolymers were investigated by differential scanning calorimetry, Thermogravimetric analysis and UV-vis spectroscopy. The self-assembly behavior of the polymer was investigated by atomic force microscopy and grazing incidence X-ray scattering.
Similar content being viewed by others
Log in or create a free account to read this content
Gain free access to this article, as well as selected content from this journal and more on nature.com
or
References
Jenekhe, S. A. & Chen, X. L. Self-assembly of ordered microporous materials from rod-coil block copolymers. Science 283, 372–375 (1999).
Klok, H. A. & Lecommandoux, S. Supramolecular materials via block copolymer self-assembly. Adv. Mater. 13, 1217–1229 (2001).
Lee, M., Cho, B.- K. & Zin, W.-C. Supramolecular structures from rod-coil block copolymers. Chem. Rev. 101, 3869–3892 (2001).
Lee, M. & Yoo, Y.-S. Supramolecular organization of block oligomers based on rod-shaped mesogen into liquid crystalline assembly. J. Mater. Chem. 12, 2161–2168 (2002).
Lim, Y.- B., Moon, K.- S. & Lee, M. Rod-coil block molecules: their aqueous self-assembly and biomaterials applications. J. Mater. Chem. 18, 2909–2918 (2008).
Hiorns, R. C. & Holder, S. J. The synthesis of organometallic rod-coil block copolymers from polysilanes. Polym. Int. 58, 323–329 (2009).
Iovu, M. C., Sheina, E. E., Gil, R. R. & McCullough, R. D. Experimental evidence for the quasi-‘living’ nature of the grignard metathesis method for the synthesis of regioregular poly(3-alkylthiophenes). Macromolecules 38, 8649–8656 (2005).
Miyakoshi, R., Yokoyama, A. & Yokozawa, T. Catalyst-transfer polycondensation. mechanism of Ni-catalyzed chain-growth polymerization leading to well-defined poly(3-hexylthiophene). J. Am. Chem. Soc. 127, 17542–17547 (2005).
Iovu, M. C., Jeffries-EL, M., Sheina, E. E., Cooper, J. R. & McCullough, R. D. Regioregular Poly(3-alkylthiophene) conducting block copolymers. Polymer 46, 8582–8586 (2005).
Iovu, M. C., Craley, C. R., Jeffries-EL, M., Krankowski, A. B., Zhang, R., Kowalewski, T. & McCullough, R. D . Conducting regioregular polythiophene block copolymer nanofibrils synthesized by reversible addition fragmentation chain transfer polymerization (RAFT) and nitroxide mediated polymerization (NMP). Macromolecules 40, 4733–4735 (2007).
Boudouris, B. W., Frisbie, C. D. & Hillmyer, M. A. Nanoporous Poly(3-alkylthiophene) thin films generated from block copolymer templates. Macromolecules 41, 67–75 (2008).
Dai, C.- A., Yen, W.- C., Lee, Y.- H., Ho, C.-C. & Su, W.- F. Facile synthesis of well-defined block copolymers containing regioregular poly(3-hexyl thiophene) via anionic macroinitiation method and their self-assembly behavior. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 129, 11036–11038 (2007).
Higashihara, T., Ohshimizu, K., Hirao, A. & Ueda, M. Facile synthesis of ABA triblock copolymer containing regioregular Poly(3-hexylthiophene) and polystyrene segments via linking reaction of poly(styryl)lithium. Macromolecules 41, 9505–9507 (2008).
Higashihara, T. & Ueda, M. Synthesis and characterization of a novel coil-rod-coil triblock copolymers comprised of regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) and poly(methyl methacrylate) segments. React. Funct. Polym. 69, 457–462 (2009).
Richard, F., Brochon, C., Leclerc, N., Eckhardt, D., Heiser, T. & Hadziioannou, G. Design of a linear poly(3-hexylthiophene)/fullerene-based donor-acceptor rod-coil block copolymer. Macromol. Rapid Commun. 29, 885–891 (2008).
Lee, J. U., Cirpan, A., Emrick, T., Russell, T. P. & Jo, W. H. Synthesis and photophysical property of well-defined donor-acceptor diblock copolymer based on regioregular poly(3-hexylthiophene) and fullerene. J. Mater. Chem. 19, 1483–1489 (2009).
Sommer, M., Lang, A. S. & Thelakkat, M. Crystalline-crystalline donor-acceptor block copolymers. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 47, 7901–7904 (2008).
Zhang, Q., Cirpan, A., Russell, T. P. & Emrick, T. Donor-acceptor poly(thiophene-block-perylene diimide) copolymers: synthesis and solar cell fabrication. Macromolecules 42, 1079–1082 (2009).
Sauvé, G. & McCullough, R. D. High field-effect mobilities for diblock copolymers of poly(3-hexylthiophene) and poly(methyl acrylate). Adv. Mater. 19, 1822–1825 (2007).
Horrion, J., Jérôme, R. & Teyssié, P. Halato-telechelic Polymers. 12. Block Copolymerization of Polystyrene and Polybutadiene via Ionic Interactions. J. Polym. Sci., Part C: Polym. Lett. 24, 69–76 (1986).
Horrion, J., Jérôme, R. & Teyssié, P. Halato-telechelic polymers. XV. ionic cross-interactions of immiscible telechelic polymers: a reversible pathway to block copolymer-type materials. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 28, 153–171 (1990).
Russell, T. P., Jérôme, R., Charlier, P. & Foucart, M. The microstructure of block copolymers formed via ionic interactions. Macromolecules 21, 1709–1717 (1988).
Iwasaki, K., Hirao, A. & Nakahama, S. Morphology of Blends of α,ω-Diaminopolystyrene with α,ω-Dicarboxypoly(ethylene oxide). Macromolecules 26, 2126–2131 (1993).
Pispas, S., Floudas, G., Pakula, T., Lieser, G., Sakellariou, S. & Hadjichristidis, N. Miktoarm block copolymer formation via ionic interactions. Macromolecules 36, 759–763 (2003).
Hirao, A., Karasawa, Y., Higashihara, T., Zhao, Y. & Sugiyama, K. Synthesis of block co-polymers and star-branched polymers consisting of conducting polyacetylene segments via ionic interaction to form ionic bonds. Design. Monom. Polym. 7, 647–660 (2004).
Sugiyama, K., Karasawa, Y., Higashihara, T., Zhao, Y. & Hirao, A. Synthesis of block copolymers and asymmetric star-branched polymers comprised of polyacetylene and polystyrene segments via ionic bond formation. Monatsh. Fuer Chem. 137, 869–880 (2006).
Yokoyama, A., Miyakoshi, R. & Yokozawa, T. Chain-growth polymerization for poly(3-hexylthiophene) with a defined molecular weight and a low polydispersity. Macromolecules 37, 1169–1171 (2004).
Quirk, R. P. & Yin, J. Carbonation of polymeric organolithium compounds: effects of chain end structure. J. Polym. Sci., Part A: Polym. Chem. 30, 2349–2355 (1992).
Lee, B., Park, Y.- H., Hwang, Y.- T., Oh, W., Yoon, J. & Ree, M. Ultralow-k nanoporous organosilicate dielectric films imprinted with dendritic spheres. Nature Mater. 4, 147–150 (2005).
Lee, B., Oh, W., Hwang, Y., Park, Y.- H., Yoon, J., Jin, K. S., Heo, K., Kim, J., Kim, K.- W & Ree, M. Imprinting well-controlled nanopores in organosilicate dielectric films: triethoxysilyl-modified six-armed poly(ɛ-caprolactone) and its chemical hybridization with an organosilicate precursor. Adv. Mater. 17, 696–701 (2005).
Yoon, J., Kim, K.- W., Kim, J., Heo, K., Jin, K. S., Jin, S., Shin, T. J., Lee, B., Rho, Y., Ahn, B. & Ree, M. Small-angle X-ray scattering station 4C2 BL of pohang accelerator laboratory for advance in korean polymer science. Macromol. Res. 16, 575–585 (2008).
Kim, G., Park, S., Jung, J., Heo, K., Yoon, J., Kim, H., Kim, I. J., Kim, J. R., Lee, J. I. & Ree, M. Novel brush polymers with phosphorylcholine bristle ends: synthesis, sructure, properties, and biocompatibility. Adv. Funct. Mater. 19, 1631–1644 (2009).
Yoon, J., Jin, S., Ahn, B., Rho, Y., Hirai, T., Maeda, R., Hayakawa, T., Kim, J., Kim, K. - W. & Ree, M. Phase transitions in thin films of a diblock copolymer composed of a linear polymer block and a brush polymer block with mesogenic oligothiophenyl bristles. Macromolecules 41, 8778–8784 (2008).
Jeffries-El, M., Sauve, G. & McCullough, R. D. In-situ end-group functionalization of regioregular poly(3-alkylthiophene) using the grignard metathesis polymerization method. Adv. Mater. 16, 1017–1019 (2004).
Jeffries-El, M., Sauvé, G. & McCullough, R. D. Facile synthesis of end-functionalized regioregular poly(3-alkylthiophene)s via modified grignard metathesis reaction. Macromolecules 38, 10346–10352 (2005).
Krasovskiy, A. & Knochel, P. A LiCl-mediated Br/Mg exchange reaction for the preparation of functionalized Aryl- and heteroarylmagnesium compounds from organic bromides. Angew. Chem., Int. Ed. 43, 3333–3336 (2004).
Chen, T.-A., Wu, X. & Rieke, R. D. Regiocontrolled synthesis of poly(3-alkylthiophenes) mediated by rieke zinc: their characterization and solid-state properties. J. Am. Chem. Soc. 117, 233–244 (1995).
Acknowledgements
We thank the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (JSPS) for supporting this study by KAKENHI (20850014). This study was also supported in part by the Korea Science & Engineering Foundation (National Research Laboratory Program and Center for Electro-Photo Behaviors in Advanced Molecular Systems) and by the Korean Ministry of Education, Science & Technology (MEST) (BK21 Program and World Class University Program). The GIXS measurements at Pohang Accelerator Laboratory were supported by MEST, POSCO and Pohang University of Science & Technology.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding authors
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Higashihara, T., Takahashi, A., Tajima, S. et al. Synthesis of block copolymers consisting of poly(3-hexylthiophene) and polystyrene segments through ionic interaction and their self-assembly behavior. Polym J 42, 43–50 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/pj.2009.312
Received:
Revised:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/pj.2009.312
Keywords
This article is cited by
-
Precision synthesis of tailor-made polythiophene-based materials and their application to organic solar cells
Macromolecular Research (2013)