Enhanced photophysics of conjugated polymers

Patent · Tue May 27 04:00:00 EDT 2003

OSTI ID:921801

Chen, Liaohai ^[1]; Xu, Su ^[2]; McBranch, Duncan ^[3]; Whitten, David ^[3]

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1. Argonne, IL
2. Santa Clara, CA
3. Santa Fe, NM

The addition of oppositely charged surfactant to fluorescent ionic conjugated polymer forms a polymer-surfactant complex that exhibits at least one improved photophysical property. The conjugated polymer is a fluorescent ionic polymer that typically has at least one ionic side chain or moiety that interacts with the specific surfactant selected. The photophysical property improvements may include increased fluorescence quantum efficiency, wavelength-independent emission and absorption spectra, and more stable fluorescence decay kinetics. The complexation typically occurs in a solution of a polar solvent in which the polymer and surfactant are soluble, but it may also occur in a mixture of solvents. The solution is commonly prepared with a surfactant molecule:monomer repeat unit of polymer ratio ranging from about 1:100 to about 1:1. A polymer-surfactant complex precipitate is formed as the ratio approaches 1:1. This precipitate is recoverable and usable in many forms.

• Research Organization: Los Alamos National Laboratory (LANL), Los Alamos, NM
• Sponsoring Organization: United States Department of Energy
• DOE Contract Number: W-7405-ENG-36
• Assignee: The Regents of the University of California (Oakland, CA)
• Patent Number(s): 6,569,952
• Application Number: 09/947,192
• OSTI ID: 921801
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

72 PHYSICS OF ELEMENTARY PARTICLES AND FIELDS