Synthesis and photocurrent response of porphyrin-containing conjugated polymers

Porphyrin-containing conjugated polymers with fluorene or carbazole as spacer groups were prepared by Sonogashira cross-coupling reactions. The polymers were of high molecular weight and the flexible alkyl chains on fluorene or carbazole units made the conjugated polymers soluble in common organic solvents, such as THF and methylene chloride. The polymers could form high quality durable films from solution casting. Their optical and photocurrent responsive properties were investigated It was found that the photocurrent response was directly proportional to the content of porphyrin. The incorporation of carbazole units into the polymer chains also gave positive contribution to the photocurrent generation in some extent.