In this work, we describe the synthesis and electropolymerization of conjugated substituted
polyacetylenes, poly(N-alkoxy-(p-ethynylphenyl)carbazole) or PPA-Cz-Cn with electropolymerizable carbazole
side groups to form conjugated polymer network (CPN) films. The phenylacetylene monomer was functionalized
with a carbazole group separated by an alkylene spacer. Polymerization of the monomer in solution is accomplished
using a Rh catalyst to form a “precursor polymer”. The electrochemical behavior and cross-linking of the carbazole
side group was then investigated by cyclic voltammetry (CV) and spectroelectrochemistry. A trend in the redox
electrochemical behavior was observed with varying alkyl spacer length between the poly(phenylacetylene)
backbone and carbazole side-group. The resulting film combines the electrooptical properties of the conjugated
poly(phenylacetylene) polymer with polycarbazole units in a cross-linked electropolymerized film as evidenced
by the CV and spectroelectrochemical behavior. This study emphasizes the preparation of polymer materials
with mixed π-conjugated species arising from the electrochemical cross-linking of a designed precursor polymer.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.