No abstract

A monomer 3,4-͑2-methylene͒propylenedioxythiophene ͑MProDOT͒ was synthesized and electrochemically polymerized to yield PMProDOT with methylene groups that have the potential to be further functionalized. Electrochemical redox switching of PMProDOT between Ϫ0.6 and ϩ1.5 V ͑vs Ag/Ag + ͒ caused the cross-linking reaction between methylene moieties at the anodic potential limit and resulted in the fast decrease of electroactivity due to destruction of -conjugation. When PMProODT was subjected to ϩ1.5 V in the presence of styrene ͑ST͒ monomers, the loss of electroactivity was not significant and the mass of the PMProDOT was rapidly increased. The mass increase was ascribed to polystyrene ͑PST͒ grafting onto PMProDOT. Simultaneous oxidation of methylene groups and ST at ϩ1.5 V led to the coupling of ST to PMProDOT, which reduced cross-linkable free-methylene moieties. PST-grafted PMProDOT showed relatively stable electroactivity over repeated potential cycling. The infrared spectrum of PST-grafted PMProDOT also showed additional sp 2 C-H stretching peaks possibly due to PST grafting.

No abstract

Poly (3,4-(2-methylene)propylenedioxythiophene) (PMProDot) nanotubes were synthesized within the pores of polycarbonate and were further modified with styrene and vinylcarbazole by a one step electrochemical method through the methylene functional group. The enhanced electrochemical and electrochromic properties of composite nanotubes were investigated using FTIR, UV/Vis absorbance spectroscopy, and AFM.