Synthesis and optical properties of light‐emitting π‐conjugated polymers containing biphenyl and dithienosilole

Copolymers containing oligo(phenylene vinylene) (2.5), fluorene, and 4,4‐dihexyldithienosilole (DTS) units were synthesized and characterized. The π‐conjugated monomers were joined with the palladium(0)‐catalyzed Suzuki–Miyaura coupling reaction, thus forming either biphenyl– or phenyl–thiophene linkages. These polymers were photoluminescent, with the fluorescent quantum efficiency between 54 and 63% and with λmaxfor fluorescence at ∼448 nm in tetrahydrofuran. The presence of 5% DTS in the copolymers had little influence on the optical absorption and emission wavelengths. Double‐layer light‐emitting‐diode devices using these polymers as emissive layers had low turn‐on voltages (3.5–4 V) and moderate external quantum efficiencies (0.14–0.30%). The results show that DTS plays a positive role in improving the charge‐injection characteristics of poly(phenylene vinylene) materials.