New light emitting poly(1,4-phenylenevinylene) derivative containing trifluoromethylstilbene group in the side chain

Abstract New poly(1,4-phenylenevinylene) derivative (PCF3PV) containing electron-accepting trifluoromethylstilbene moiety as a side group was prepared through the organic-soluble precursor pathway. The synthesized PCF3PV was characterized with UV–Visible, FT-IR, thermal analyses as well as photoluminescence and electroluminescence spectroscopies. The luminescent maximum lies at around 548 nm, which is similar to that of dialkoxy-substituted PPV derivatives. Though PCF3PV has two lumophores, stilbene and conjugated PPV backbone in main and side chain simultaneously, it showed only yellow emission corresponding to the main chain chromophore, i.e., PPV backbone. Energy transfer from CF3–stilbene into PPV segment should contribute such phenomena to show only emission of lower energy.