The Importance of Excellent π–π Interactions in Poly(thiophene)s To Reach a High Third-Order Nonlinear Optical Response

• DOI: 10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c07535
• Publication Date: 2020-10-14T13:55:25Z
• Authors: Stien Vertommen; Elena Battaglini; Elisabetta Salatelli; Olivier Deschaume; Carmen Bartic; Thierry Verbiest; Guy Koeckelberghs
• Keywords: 01 natural sciences; third-order nonlinear optical (TONO) response, poly(thiophene)s, Kumada Catalyst Transfer Condensative Polymerization (KCTCP); 0104 chemical sciences

Poly(thiophene)s have an inherently large third-order nonlinear optical (TONO) response, but applications are not straightforward due to unoptimized materials. Therefore, several structure-property relationships (molar mass, branching, regioregularity) investigated unravel which structural modifications give the highest TONO response. Poly(3-hexylthiophene) with different molar masses, poly[3-(2-ethylhexyl)thiophene] and random copolymers degrees of regioregularity synthesized measured by UV-vis spectroscopy third harmonic scattering technique. Every modification that leads increase in π-π interactions poly(thiophene)s response material. a material high unbranched alkyl side chain, degree is preferably tested as promising