Electrochemical synthesis and properties of poly(3-methylthiophene): Novelsynthesis of poly(3-methylthiophene) with pentachlorostannate and hexachloroantimonate

Poly(3-methylthiophene) (P3-MeT) doped with different anions were prepared electrochemically in the presence of tetraalkylammonium salts. The new poly (3-methylthiophene) SnCl5- and SbCl6- (P3-MeT SnCl5 and P3-MeT SbCl6) were prepared electrochemically using tetra-n-butylammonium pentachlorostannate and tetra-n-butylammonium hexachloroantimonate as the supporting electrolyt es. The effect of current density, salt concentration, reaction temperature , and the nature of solvents on the polymer yield and polymer conductivitie s have been investigated. Cyclic voltammetry of poly(3-methylthiophene) has been examined at platinum electrode in 1,2-dichloroethane medium containin g n-Bu4NSnCl5, Bu4NSbCl6, and Bu4NClO4 as the supporting electrolytes in th e range of -1.0 to 1.7 V versus SCE in the presence and absence of 3-methyl thiophene. Electrical conductivity, magnetic susceptibility measurements, a nd structural determination by elemental analysis and infrared studies were also made. Scanning electron microscopy revealed a globular, branched, fib rous and a spongy, fibrous morphology of poly(3-methylthiophene) SnCl5-, Cl O4-, and SbCl6-, respectively. The thermal analysis of the polymers was als o investigated. Possible causes for the observed lower conductivity of thes e polymers have also been discussed. (C) 1999 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.