A novel high photoluminescence efficiency polymer incorporated with pendant europium complexes

A novel copolymer, PVK-co-MMA-co-Eu(BA)(2)(MAA)phen (PKMEu), was synthesized by free radical copolymeriation of 9-vinylcarbazole, methyl methacrylate with europium-methacrlate complex in THF with AIBN as initiator. The copolymer structure and composition were confirmed by FTIR, UV, C-13 NMR and element analysis. The molecular weight was determined by GPC, the number-average molecular weight of PKMEu is 10,600 and exhibits a broad weight distribution. PKMEu has the glass transition temperature (T-g) of 165 degreesC, TG measurement reveals that the decomposition temperature range of PKMEu is 390-600"C. The absolute photoluminescence (PL) quantum efficiency of PKMEu was measured using integrating sphere technique. It is about 40.28% with the excitation wavelength of 260 nm. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.