Jochen Vanderspikken*, Pieter Verstappen and Wouter Maes*,
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引用次数: 0
Abstract
The incorporation of organic molecules has transformed the (mobile phone) displays market, yet the widespread use of conjugated polymers in optoelectronic applications remains elusive. This can partly be attributed to their inherent dispersity and structural variability. In fact, elucidating the exact molecular structures of state-of-the-art alternating conjugated (co)polymers presents a significant challenge. Matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization - time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-ToF MS) is a valuable tool for evaluating polymer structures but its reduced sensitivity for higher molecular weights and nonquantitative nature somewhat restrict its implementation. This study explores MALDI-ToF MS in combination with fractionation to allow detection of longer polymer chains for the benchmark material PBTTT and its alkoxy derivative. Polymers with different homocoupling defect ratios are compared and the information gathered from MALDI-ToF MS is critically assessed. Finally, some guidelines are postulated to assist researchers in extracting pertinent data from MALDI-ToF mass spectra of alternating conjugated polymers.
期刊介绍:
Macromolecules publishes original, fundamental, and impactful research on all aspects of polymer science. Topics of interest include synthesis (e.g., controlled polymerizations, polymerization catalysis, post polymerization modification, new monomer structures and polymer architectures, and polymerization mechanisms/kinetics analysis); phase behavior, thermodynamics, dynamic, and ordering/disordering phenomena (e.g., self-assembly, gelation, crystallization, solution/melt/solid-state characteristics); structure and properties (e.g., mechanical and rheological properties, surface/interfacial characteristics, electronic and transport properties); new state of the art characterization (e.g., spectroscopy, scattering, microscopy, rheology), simulation (e.g., Monte Carlo, molecular dynamics, multi-scale/coarse-grained modeling), and theoretical methods. Renewable/sustainable polymers, polymer networks, responsive polymers, electro-, magneto- and opto-active macromolecules, inorganic polymers, charge-transporting polymers (ion-containing, semiconducting, and conducting), nanostructured polymers, and polymer composites are also of interest. Typical papers published in Macromolecules showcase important and innovative concepts, experimental methods/observations, and theoretical/computational approaches that demonstrate a fundamental advance in the understanding of polymers.