THE ELECTROCHEMISTRY OF FLUORINE-SUBSTITUTED POLYPHENYLTHIOPHENES FORCHARGE STORAGE APPLICATIONS

A series of thiophene-based conducting polymers has been synthesized. The properties of these polymers were characterized using electrochemi cal techniques. The polymerization potentials of the monomers were fou nd to be related to the corresponding Hammett a values. The maximum n- doping levels of the polymers were also found to be correlated with th e Hammett sigma values. No correlation was found with the maximum p-do ping levels of the polymers. The doping densities were found to decrea se on repeated cycling and were correlated with irreversible morpholog ical changes in the films. Test cells were fabricated using conducting polymer films for both anode and cathode. These cells exhibited disch arge voltages of about 2.5 V and capacities of 9.5 to 11.5 mA h g(-1). (C) 1998 Elsevier Science S.A.