We are interested in utilizing the thermo-switchable properties of precursor poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV) polymers to develop capacitor dielectrics that will fail at specific temperatures due to the material irreversibly switching from an insulator to a conducting polymer. By utilizing different leaving groups on the polymer main chain, the temperature at which the polymer transforms into a conductor can be varied over a range of temperatures. Electrical characterization of thin-film capacitors prepared from several precursor PPV polymers indicates that these materials have good dielectric properties until they reach elevated temperatures, at which point conjugation of the polymer backbone effectively disables the device. Here, we present the synthesis, dielectric processing, and electrical characterization of a new thermo-switchable polymer dielectric.
Conjugated polymers such as poly(p-phenylenevinylene) (PPV) have attracted a great deal of attention due to their optoelectronic properties. The ability to control the lateral spatial resolution of conjugated polymers will allow for improved integration into electronic devices. Here, we present a method for photo-patterning xanthate precursor polymers leading to micron scale spatial control of conjugated poly(p-phenylenevinylene). Our photolithographic process is simple and direct, and should be amenable to a range of other xanthate or dithiocarbamate precursor PPV polymers.
Materials with switchable states are desirable in many areas of science and technology. The ability to thermally transform a dielectric material to a conductive state should allow for the creation of electronics with built-in safety features. Specifically, the non-desirable build-up and discharge of electricity in the event of a fire or over-heating would be averted by utilizing thermo-switchable dielectrics in the capacitors of electrical devices (preventing the capacitors from charging at elevated temperatures). We have designed a series of polymers that effectively switch from a non-conductive to a conductive state. The thermal transition is governed by the stability of the leaving group after it leaves as a free entity. Here, we present the synthesis and characterization of a series of precursor polymers that eliminate to form poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV's).