MEH-PPV and dialkoxy phenylene vinylene copolymers. Synthesis and lasing characterization

We report the use of the HORNER-type polycondensation for the synthesis of MEH-PPV and some strictly alternating copolymers (MEH-DOO-PPV) and regular terpolymers (TPD-M3EH-PPV) all of which having MEH-PV subunits. High molecular weight, solution processable waveguiding materials of increased Tg (80 - 160 °C) were achieved. For comparison also statistical dialkoxy-PPV copolymers and blends of MEH-PPV and DPOP-PPV have been studied. All these luminescent polymers exhibit travelling-wave lasing (amplified spontaneous emission-ASE) in neat films. Emission occurs in the red spectral region. ASE is achieved in waveguiding neat films by picosecond pulse excitation. The lasing is identified by spectral narrowing, temporal shortening, and threshold behaviour of light emission.