HIGHLY ORDERED CONDUCTIVE POLYMERS BY POLYMERIZATION OF SELF-ASSEMBLING ELECTROACTIVE MONOMERS

Electrooxidative polymerization of a series of self-assembling monomer s, potassium 3-(3-alkylpyrrol-1-yl)propane sulfonates (1), affords ord ered conductive polymers. Monomers with appropriate alkyl side chain l engths (i.e., octyl to tetradecyl) form micelles in aqueous solution, and the polymers are deposited as lamellar, semicrystalline thin films . X-ray diffraction indicates a head-to-head bilayer type packing. The repeat unit corresponds to twice the extended length of the monomer, and each additional methylene unit in the hydrophobic alkyl chain adds approximately 2 A to the interlayer spacing. The asymmetric nature of the polymer results in anisotropic electrical conductivity, such that conductivity along the film (i.e., parallel to the aligned polymer ch ains) is greater than that through the film.