Synthesis and optical properties on a series of polyethers incorporating terfluorene segments and methylene spacers

A series of polyethers consisting of a modified terfluorenediol connected with a nonconjugated spacer were synthesized and characterized in respect to their thermal, electrochemical, optical and morphological properties. The polymers were further investigated as thin deposits with the use of the FT-IR technique after thermal (200 degrees C for 30 min) and photo-oxidation treatment. After thermal treatment no generation of the carbonyl stretching mode of the fluorenone moiety is observed, while after photo-oxidation in various times (between 5 to 30 min) the appearance of the fluorenone unit is well established. Furthermore, the length of the flexible spacer used influenced the optical properties of the polyethers after thermal treatment. In particular, odd ones showed more intensely the low energy emission band at 520 nm after the thermal treatment in contrast to even ones.