Spectroelectrochemical study of substituted polyanilines processability of pure materials and their copolymers

Author(s)

Andréia Leal Schemid

• Document type: Master's Dissertation
• Press: São Paulo.
• Institution: Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Conjunto das Químicas (IQ e FCF) (CQ/DBDCQ)
• Defense date: 2001-06-13

Examining board members

Susana Ines Cordoba de Torresi; Artur de Jesus Motheo; Silmara das Neves

• Advisor: Susana Ines Cordoba de Torresi

Abstract

The research in electroative polymers in the past few years has received considerable attention, in particular aromatic polymers. Among these polymers, polyaniline (PANI) has been one of the most widely studied conducting polymers because of its optical and electrochemical properties, which can be used in many applications, including rechargeable batteries, corrosion protection, light emitting diodes, molecular sensors, electrochromic devices, etc, and due to its chemical and oxidative stability. However, as it is common with other conjugated polymers, polyaniline is limited by poor thermal processability and solvent solubility, due to the stiffness of its backbone. Consequently, their post-synthesis processability is quite difficult, and a lot of work has been done recently to overcome this problem. Improved solubility can be achieved by introducing bulky alkyl substituents into the polyaniline backbone, but limitations are then imposed on the conductivity of the polymer produced. The conductivity of polyaniline and the solubility of substituted polyanilines can be achieved by copolymerization. These copolymers of aniline and substituted anilines show improved solvent solubility, while maintaining high electrical conductivity which can be readily tailored by varying the composition of the copolymer. The understanding of the behaviour of the homopolymers is a fundamental step to understand the copolymer. For this reason a comparative study of the spectroelectrochemical and electrogravimetric response of the homopolymers (polyaniline and poly(2-ethylaniline)) was performed. A series of poly(aniline-co-2-ethylaniline) copolymers was prepared by chemical and electrochemical methods. Those copolymers have been characterised by electrochemical, electrogravimetric and spectroscopic methods; conductivity measurements and solubility tests being also reported. (AU)