DEGRADATION OF THE ELECTRICAL-PROPERTIES OF CHLORINE-DOPED POLY(SELENO-P-ARYLEN DIAMINE)S

The changes in the conductivity of chlorine-doped poly(seleno-p-arylen diamine)s have been studied with temperature, storage time and ambien t atmosphere, The samples have also been studied using X-ray photoelec tron spectroscopy (XPS) and electron spin resonance (ESR). The conduct ivity of the polymers with carbonyl in their backbone decreases with s torage time but is insensitive to oxygen, The decrease in conductivity with time is attributed to the breaking of the Se-N bonds by chlorine attack, which induces polymer degradation as shown by XPS. The conduc tivity of the polymers without carbonyl in their backbone was increase d by oxygen. This increase can be attributed to oxidation of these pol ymers and to bipolaron formation as shown by ESR measurements. (C) 199 6 Elsevier Science Limited