SYNTHESIS AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES OF POLY(PHENYLENE VINYLENE)S HAVING OLIGO(ETHYLENE OXIDE) IN THE SIDE CHAIN.

Oligo(ethylene oxide) chains were introduced into the phenyl ring of the poly-(phenylene vinylene) (PPV) derivatives to obtain electronic and ionic conductive liquid crystalline PPV derivatives. Thermal decomposition of all PPV derivatives occurred before isotropic melt. A typical texture of the liquid crystalline phase was not shown but birefringence was observed below the thermal decomposition temperature. Exhibition of a smectic phase for the polymers having triethylene or tetraethylene oxide chains was supported by X-ray measurements. Electronic conductivity of the PPV derivatives doped with I2 and ionic conductivity of the mixture of these polymers and LiClO4 were also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]