Polymerization of Thiophene Derivatives Bearing Bulky Azobenzene Substituent with Flexible Alkyl Spacer in Liquid Crystal

摘要

A series of polythiophene derivatives bearing azobenzene moiety has been synthesized in liquid crystal (LC) as a reaction medium. Infrared absorption, ultra violet-visible (UV-vis) absorption, fluorescence spectroscopies, and gel permeation chromatography for the polymers thus prepared are examined. LC temperature ranges of the reaction mixtures before and after polymerization are confirmed with differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and visual inspection using polarizing optical microscopy (POM) to achieve polymerization in the LC temperature range. The LC medium free polymers show nematic LC phase.