REVERSIBLE ELECTRON-TRANSFER REACTION BETWEEN POLYANILINE AND THIOL DISULFIDE COUPLES/

Reversible electron transfer was observed between polyaniline (PAn) an d thiol/disulfide couples of 2,5-dimercapto-1,3,4-thiadiazole (DMcT), 2-mercapto-5-methyl-1,3,4-thindiazole, 2-mercaptopyridine, and thiophe nol. Thus, PAn can be used as a molecular current collector for those insulating organosulfur compounds, which are promising high-capacity e nergy storage materials. Among those couples, DMcT exhibits the fastes t reversible electron transfer. Electron transfer from other aromatic and aliphatic thiols to oxidized PAn is also observed. Effects of prot ons on the reactions and reaction kinetics are discussed.