ELECTROCHEMICAL SYNTHESIS AND ELECTRONIC-PROPERTIES OF POLY(3,4-DIBUTYL-ALPHA-TERTHIOPHENE)

Electrochemically prepared poly(3,4-dibutyl-alpha-terthiophene) has be en investigated and the relationship between the electronic properties , the chemical structure of the monomer and the electrolyte used durin g the electropolymerization was studied. Doping studies were carried o ut with various electrolytes. We have electrochemically oxidized (p-do ping) and reduced (n-doping) thin films of this polymer on platinum el ectrode under the same electrochemical conditions. We find that the fi lms show a reversible oxidation wave yielding an electrically conducti ng polymer and a reversible reduction wave which is sensitive to the n ature of the electrolyte. A value for the band gap derived electrochem ically compares well with that obtained by optical absorption measurem ents and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy. The electrical conductivity varies by 10(12) S cm(-1) between the doped and undoped states of the polymer. The temperature-independent magnetic susceptibility above 10 0 K is consistent with the conducting properties of this polymer. The electrochemically prepared material is compared with the chemically pr epared one using the same monomer.