Synthesis, characterization, and optical properties of a novel alternating 3-dodecyloxythiophene-co-pyridine copolymer

A novel soluble alternating conjugated copolymer, comprised of 3-dodecyloxythiophene and pyridine moieties, was synthesized via the Heck Couple approach. Regioregular poly(3-dodecyloxythiophenel) synthesized by McCullough was also studied for comparison. The obtained polymers were characterized by 1H NMR, HR-MS, gel permeation chromatography, UV–Vis spectroscopy, photoluminescence and Cyclic voltammetry. The photoluminescence of the copolymer exhibited extraordinary bright blue. The electrochemical study shows that the new alternating copolymer does not merely have the properties of the two units that constitute it but has mutual hole and electron charge carrier properties which might be promising material for applications in high efficiency, single or low number layers functional devices.