Synthesis, photophysical properties and electrochemical polymerization of a new blue fluorescent compound based on 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene moiety

New monomer, 4,4’-[(2,3-dihydrothieno[3,4-b][1,4]diorin-5-yl)vinyl]-1,1’-biphenyl (BPE), was synthesized, characterized and polymerized electrochemically via a potentiostatic method. The corresponding polymer poly(4,4’-[(2,3-dihydrothieno[3,4-b][1,4] diorin-5-yl)vinyl]-1,1’-biphenyl) (PBPE) obtained as a thin-layer film, was characterized by cyclic voltammetry, X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, infrared spectroscopy and UV-Vis spectroscopy. The highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) energy levels of the obtained polymer were determined from cyclic voltammograms as –4.89 eV and –3.81 eV, respectively. Its optical and electrochemical band gaps were calculated, and found to be 1.08 eV and 1.49 eV, respectively. PBPE can be used as a donor material in bilayer organic photovoltaic solar cells having PCBM as acceptor material.