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Influence of Branching of Polythiophenes on the Microporosity
Author(s) -
Mulunda Mikael Monga,
Zhang Zidan,
Nies Eric,
Goethem Cédric,
Vankelecom Ivo F. J.,
Koeckelberghs Guy
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
macromolecular chemistry and physics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.57
H-Index - 112
eISSN - 1521-3935
pISSN - 1022-1352
DOI - 10.1002/macp.201800024
Subject(s) - polythiophene , branching (polymer chemistry) , microporous material , conjugated microporous polymer , polymer , polymer chemistry , polymerization , selectivity , solvent , conjugated system , desorption , chemical engineering , chemistry , materials science , catalysis , conductive polymer , organic chemistry , adsorption , engineering
Abstract A chain growth polymerization of a branched polythiophene (BT) using a Pd(Ruphos) catalyst, as a promising route to synthesize microporous conjugated polymers with well‐defined structures is reported. From N 2 adsorptions/desorption isotherm measurements, a Brunauer–Emmett–Teller surface area of 40.7 m 2 g −1 is calculated for the BT, significantly higher than that of the linear poly(3‐hexylthiophene) (P3HT) (25.7 m 2 g −1 ). The same trend is confirmed by simulations of the two polymer structures, from which a geometric surface area (SA geo ) of 140 ± 15.8 m 2 g −1 is calculated for the BT, much more higher than for the P3HT with a SA geo of 6.7 ± 7.1 m 2 g −1 . Moreover, the BT is soluble in common organic solvent and is readily processed in membrane with a CO 2 /N 2 selectivity up to 24.