PHOTODEGRADATION AND PHOTOSTABILIZATION STUDIES OF POLY(3-BUTYLTHIOPHENE) IN THE SOLID-STATE

A study to clarify the mechanism of the photochemical degradation of p oly(3-alkylthiophene)s in the solid state was carried out. The isolati on of two low molecular weight products allowed us to determine that t he polymer, under irradiation of visible light, gives rise to singlet oxygen that will, in turn, cause oxidation of the polymeric chains. Fu rthermore, N-hexadecyl-N-methylaniline and 1-phenyldodecan-1-one were found to decrease the rate of polymer oxidation, the latter compound b eing more efficient than the former even at lower concentration. It is suggested the protective action by these substances may simply be due to their ability to act as a light screen.