ISSN print edition: 0366-6352 ISSN electronic edition: 1336-9075 Registr. No.: MK SR 9/7 Published monthly

Controlled synthesis of PPV oligomers by ROMP: impact on optical, structural, and thermal properties

Mahmoud Z. Basyouni, Keisuke Nomura, Yuto Goroumaru, Mohammed F. Radwan, Mohamed E. Abdu, and Andrew M. Spring

Department of Interdisciplinary Engineering Sciences, Chemistry and Materials Science, Interdisciplinary Graduate School of Engineering Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan

E-mail: mahmoud.basiouny@fsc.bu.edu.eg

Received: 8 December 2024  Accepted: 22 April 2025

Abstract:

Poly(p-phenylene vinylene) PPV derivatives represent a pivotal class of π-conjugated materials with promising applications in organic electronic devices such as OLEDs, OFETs, and OPVs. Despite their significance, understanding the structure–property relationships in PPV derivatives remains challenging, particularly for oligomers. In this study, we synthesized PPV derivative oligomers via ROMP. The oligomers exhibited molecular weights of 3.46 kDa and 6.16 kDa, demonstrating well-controlled polymerization. The incorporation of alkyl side chains onto the oligomer backbone enhanced solubility and refined optical properties. UV–Vis analysis determined the optical band gaps (Eg^op) of the synthesized oligomers to range from 2.14 to 2.47 eV. Furthermore, TGA revealed two-step decomposition processes with onset decomposition temperatures (Td, onset) of 221.8°C and 218.5°C, and thermal decomposition maximum temperatures (Td, max) at 356.8°C and 324.0°C for Oligo-DO-PPV and Oligo-TO-PPV, respectively. These findings underscore the potential of ROMP as a versatile approach for tailoring PPV oligomers and provide critical insights into their structure–property relationships. This work advances our understanding of PPV oligomers, paving the way for future applications in optoelectronic devices.

Graphical abstract

Keywords: Oligo Delivery; Organic Molecules in Materials Science; Polymer Synthesis; Polymers; Supramolecular Polymers; Peptide nucleic acid oligo; PPV oligomers; ROMP; Band gap; Optical properties; Controlled polymerization

Full paper is available at www.springerlink.com.

DOI: 10.1007/s11696-025-04091-8

Chemical Papers 79 (7) 4687–4700 (2025)