Tunable Control of the Hydrophilicity and Wettability of Conjugated Polymers by a Postpolymerization Modification Approach

Shengyu Cong, Adam Creamer, Zhuping Fei, Sam A.J. Hillman, Charlotte Rapley, Jenny Nelson, Martin Heeney

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

17 Scopus citations

Abstract

A facile method to prepare hydrophilic polymers by a postpolymerization nucleophillic aromatic substitution reaction of fluoride on an emissive conjugated polymer (CP) backbone is reported. Quantitative functionalization by a series of monofunctionalized ethylene glycol oligomers, from dimer to hexamer, as well as with high molecular weight polyethylene glycol is demonstrated. The length of the ethylene glycol sidechains is shown to have a direct impact on the surface wettability of the polymer, as well as its solubility in polar solvents. However, the energetics and band gap of the CPs remain essentially constant. This method therefore allows an easy way to modulate the wettability and solubility of CP materials for a diverse series of applications.
Original languageEnglish (US)
JournalMacromolecular Bioscience
Volume20
Issue number11
DOIs
StatePublished - Nov 1 2020
Externally publishedYes

Bibliographical note

Generated from Scopus record by KAUST IRTS on 2023-02-14

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