INVESTIGATIONS ON THE EFFECT OF METHYL-GROUP IN POLY(O-TOLUIDINE) BY ELECTROCHEMICAL AND SPECTROSCOPIC TECHNIQUES

Conducting poly(o-toluidine) polymer has been synthesized by both chem ical and electrochemical polymerization methods. The presence of methy l group affects not only the electrochemical polymerization window but also brings about drastic changes in the optical and electronic prope rties of parent polymer polyaniline. Poly(o-toluidine) shows multiple colour transition (yellow-->green-->blue-->violet) on switching the po tential between reduced and oxidized state with a better electrochromi c response time (27 ms). The hypsochromic shift of pi-pi transition a nd bathochromic shift of metallic polaron band transition are observed on going from polyaniline to poly(o-toluidine) which are probably due to change in torsional angle between two adjacent rings.