STUDY OF THE BLOCK COPOLYMER POLYSTYRENE POLYACETYLENE IN SOLUTION

Solubility of conjugated polymers has been achieved by synthesizing block copolymers with saturated and conjugated parts. Here, we present visible optical spectroscopy, resonant Raman scattering and small angle neutron scattering. Results obtained with small angle neutron scattering on the homogeneous solutions indicate a stretched conformation of the polystyrene and an aggregate structure. Moreover, a demixing process happened while heating the solution. The copolymer forms a film at the solvent-gas interface, the quantity of copolymer at the surface increasing with the temperature. The whole process is reversible and we can expect to control finely the way the films are formed, by changing the ratio DP(PS)/DP(PA), the length of the conjugated part or the temperature.