Molecular dynamics of oligofluorenes: A dielectric spectroscopy investigation

The molecular dynamics were investigated in a series of "defect-free" oligofluorenes up to the polymer by dielectric spectroscopy (DS). The method is very sensitive to the presence of keto "defects" that when incorporated on the backbone give rise to poor optical and electronic properties. Two dielectrically active processes were found (beta and alpha process). The latter process (alpha) displays strongly temperature dependent relaxation times and temperature- and molecular weight-dependent spectral broadening associated with intramolecular correlations. The glass temperature (T-g) obeys the Fox-Flory equation and the polymer T-g is obtained by DS at 332 K. The effective dipole moment associated with the alpha process is 0.27+/-0.03 D. (C) 2004 American Institute of Physics.