Electrochemical synthesis of poly(paraphenylene vinylene) films

Poly(paraphenylene vinylene) was prepared by electrochemical reduction of a lpha,alpha,alpha',alpha'-tetrabromo-p-xylene. The effect of different param eters on the quality of the formed polymer film was studied: monomer materi al, supporting electrolyte, electrode material, polymerization potential an d the preparation procedure. The films polymerized in different electrolyte solutions were studied by sweep electron microscopy (SEM), cyclic voltamme try (CV) and with in situ conductometry measurements. Energy dispersive X-r ay analysis (EDXA), dispersive Raman spectroscopy and Fourier transform inf rared (FTIR) spectroscopy techniques were used to study the structure of th e formed polymer films. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.