SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION, AND LANGMUIR-BLODGETT-FILMS OF FLUORINATED POLYTHIOPHENES

Fluorinated poly(alkylthiophenes) and poly(alkoxythiophenes) have been chemically and electrochemically synthesized. Poly[3-(tridecafluorono nyl)thiophene] has been found to be soluble in octafluorotoluene and h as been characterized by H-1 NMR spectroscopy, while [3-[(pentadecaflu orooctyl)-oxy]-4-methylthiophene] and poly(3'-perfluorohexylterthiophe ne) are insoluble in common or fluorinated organic solvents. Electrica l, electrochemical, and optical properties of the fluorinated polythio phenes are compared with those of their respective alkyl analogues. La ngmuir-Blodgett films have been obtained from pure poly[3-(tridecafluo rononyl)thiophene]. Monolayers of this polymer have shown thermochromi c properties similar to those of spin-coated films, indicating that th e interchain interactions are not the dominant factor in this thermall y induced conformational transition.