New copolyimides containing perylenediimide, oxadiazole and hexafluoroisopropylidene moieties were prepared by one-step polycondensation reaction in solution at high temperature of aromatic diamines containing preformed oxadiazole ring with a mixture of a dianhydride having a perylene ring and another dianhydride with hexafluoroisopropylidene unit. The thermal stability and glass transition temperatures of these copolyimides were measured and compared with those of related polyimides. The solid polymers were also studied by polarized light microscopy and X-ray diffraction which revealed a semicrystalline state consisting of face-to-face arranged columns of perylenediimide units. The film-forming ability and properties of the resulting thin films were investigated by using atom force microscopy and scanning electron microscopy which showed that the films were organized into self-assembled rod-like structures. The UV-Vis and photoluminescence properties in solution and in solid state were also investigated. (c) 2010 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Polym Sci Part A: Polym Chem 48: 4230-4242, 2010