THE OLIGOMERIC APPROACH - THE ELECTROCHEMISTRY OF CONDUCTING POLYMERSIN THE LIGHT OF RECENT RESEARCH

Electrochemical investigations on oligomeric model compounds (beta-car otenoids) of polyacetylene varying the chain length in the range betwe en 5 and 23 double bonds provide deeper insights into the redox proper ties of such systems. Furthermore, cyclic voltammetric studies of alph a,omega-diphenylpolyenes and phenylenevinylenes give clear evidence th at the formation of the radical ions is followed by a rapid reversible dimerization between the oligomeric chains. The thermodynamic and kin etic parameters of the chemical reaction are presented. Applying these results to the properties of conducting polymers opens up new perspec tives for interpreting charge storage and conductivity.