Dye functionalized-ROMP based terpolymers for the use as a light up-converting material: Via triplet-triplet annihilation

In this paper we introduce and compare different terpolymers comprising covalently attached sensitizer and emitter chromophores for the use as a light up-converting material via triplet-triplet annihilation (TTA). Using the advantages of ring opening metathesis polymerisation it was possible to prepare five different polymer architectures in order to investigate the influence of polymer architecture and chromophore arrangement on the photon up-conversion behaviour. First, two new monomers containing the chromophores have been synthesized and characterized in regard to their photophysical characteristics suitable for triplet-triplet annihilation dye pair. For this purpose, a derivative of Pt(ii) meso-tetraphenyltetra(tert-butyl)benzoporphyrin as sensitizer and a perylenediester as emitter were attached to norbornene moieties via ester linkages. Polymerisations of these monomeric chromophores were performed in combination with dimethyl 5-norbornene-2,3-dicarboxylate as matrix monomer. Depending on the location of the dye molecules on the polymer chain, large differences in the TTA efficiency were observed. The best quantum yields have been achieved with a completely statistically distributed terpolymer showing an up-conversion quantum yield of up to 3% in solution.