Nanostructured Poly (2,2′-bithiophene)-co-(3-dodecylthiophene): Preparation, Investigation of the Electroactivity, Conductivity, and Morphology

Abstract

The copolymerization of 3-dodecylthiophene (3-DDT) with 2,2′-bithiophene (2,2′-BT) was carried out by chemical and electrochemical oxidation methods. Nanoparticles made of conjugate copolymers with different feed ratios of monomers were prepared by chemical polymerization in presence of iron (III) chloride anhydrous and mixtures of acetonitrile and dichloromethane as a binary organic solvent. The 3-DDT and 2,2′-BT monomers were synthesized from 3-bromothiophene and 2-bromothiophene, respectively. Fourier transform infrared and UV-vis spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimeter, thermogravimetric analysis, scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and four probe conductivity measurement techniques were applied for the characterization of the prepared homo- and copolymers. In electrochemical method, copolymer thin films were synthesized with different feed ratios of monomers by cyclic voltammetry in lithium perchlorate-acetonitrile (LiClO₄/CH₃CN) electrolyte on the surface of the glassy carbon (GC) as the working electrode. Deposition conditions on the GC and influence of the molar ratio of monomers on the electroactivity were studied using cyclic voltammetry.

Keywords:

• 2′-bithiophene)
• Conducting polymers
• electrochemical polymerization
• nanostructure polymers
• poly (2,2′-bithiopene)
• poly (3-dodecylthiophene)

Notes

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