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Comparative Study of Solvent Effect on the Electrochemical Deposition of Polythiophene and Polybithiophene

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  10 February 2011

T. K. S. Wong
Affiliation:
Photonics Laboratory, School of Electrical and Electronic Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, ekswong@ntu.edu.sg
X. Hu
Affiliation:
Polymer Laboratory, School of Applied Science, Nanyang Technological University, Singapore 639798, asxhu@ntu.edu.sg
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Abstract

Thin films of polythiophene and polybithiophene have been deposited by electrochemical polymerization onto indium tin oxide substrates using two different aprotic organic solvents: acetonitrile and benzonitrile. It was observed that when benzonitrile is used as supporting solvent, the initial deposit is always discontinuous and uniform thin layers could not be obtained. When acetonitrile is the solvent, the deposited layer is continuous. However, both the optical and mechanical properties of the polymer film are inferior. The difference is especially pronounced for thiophene monomers. Characterization results suggest a greater degree of polymerization in benzonitrile solvent.

Type
Research Article
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2000

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