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Tunable Control of the Hydrophilicity and Wettability of Conjugated Polymers by a Postpolymerization Modification Approach
Author(s) -
Cong Shengyu,
Creamer Adam,
Fei Zhuping,
Hillman Sam A. J.,
Rapley Charlotte,
Nelson Jenny,
Heeney Martin
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
macromolecular bioscience
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.924
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1616-5195
pISSN - 1616-5187
DOI - 10.1002/mabi.202000087
Subject(s) - polymer , ethylene glycol , surface modification , polymer chemistry , wetting , solubility , polyethylene glycol , conjugated system , chemistry , contact angle , materials science , chemical modification , chemical engineering , organic chemistry , engineering , composite material
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.