Effect of hexadecyl groups in 4 position on the electrochemical polymerisation of 4H-cyclopenta[2,1-b : 3,4-b ']dithiophene

Hexadecyl groups in 4 position of 4H-cyclopenta[2,1-b:3,4-b']dithiophene(CP DT) molecule leads, by cyclic voltammetry (CV), to electrode films of polyc onjugated polymers with a more regular morphology and higher interchain dis tance. The rate of film formation is lower for the alkyl-substituted compou nds and, in this case, during the preparative cyclic voltammetry (PC), an i nduction step was observed inherent to the electrode covering process. The same induction step was observed also in the polymerisation of non-substitu ted molecule, but at lower concentrations. (C) 2000 Elsevier Science S.A. A ll rights reserved.