Polymer Engineering Faculty Research

Synthesis and photophysical properties of some conjugated polymers functionalized with ruthenium polypyridine complexes

Xiong Gong, The University of Akron

Abstract

A series of conjugated polymers functionalized with different ruthenium polypyridine metal complexes were synthesized by the palladium catalyzed reaction. Two conjugated polymer systems have been studied: 1. poly(phenylenevinylene) with bis(2,2':6',2”-terpyridine) ruthenium (II) on the mainchain and 2. quinoxaline based polymers with tris(2,2'-bipyridine) ruthenium (II). The ruthenium polypyridine complexes exhibit a long-lived metal to ligand charge transfer excited state which can enhance the photosensitivity of the resulting polymers. Different physical properties such as the photoconductivity and charge mobility in these polymers are also studied.