High‐quality polythiophene films prepared by electropolymerization of thiophene in BF₃‐ethyl ether solution

Abstract

Polythiophene films have been deposited on a platinum electrode surface by direct oxidation of thiophene in BF3‐ethyl ether solution containing a controlled amount of water (5 mM). The electric and mechanical properties of the films were studied. Experimental results demonstrated that the films prepared at low applied potentials were semiconductors with conductivities in the order of 10−1 s cm−1. The strengths of these films were high and comparable to those of some widely used engineering plastics such as poly(propylene) and poly(vinyl acetate). The conductivities of the PT films varied with the value of applied potential used for electrolysis and passed through a maximum of 19.13 s cm−1 at +1.6 V. At a given applied potential, low experimental temperature, and monomer concentration led to formation of films with high quality. © 1995 John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

Low potential electrodeposition of high‐quality and freestanding poly(3‐(6‐bromohexyl)thiophene) films

“…Moreover, the catalytic effect of BFEE facilitates the formation of high‐quality freestanding polythiophene films. A set of freestanding films of polythiophene and its derivatives with good mechanical, electrical and thermal properties have been electrodeposited 17–25. Under these circumstances, BFEE serves not only as the solvent but also as the supporting electrolyte, and no other supporting electrolyte was needed (ionic conductivity of freshly distilled BFEE was ∼ 400 μS/cm).…”

A magenta polypyrrole derivatised with Methyl Red azo dye: synthesis and spectroelectrochemical characterisation

“…2), which was accompanied by polymerisation, as confirmed by the increase in the current densities of the redox pair at the 0.0-0.6 V region, implying that the amount of PMRPy deposited on the It is known from the literature that BFEE solution is a strong Lewis acid, widely used as a catalyst in electrochemical polymerisation of aromatic monomers, such as thiophene, furan and pyrrole [32][33][34]. BFEE interacts with the aromatic ring by the formation of p-complexes, thereby decreasing the resonance stabilisation of the aromatic ring and shifting the oxidation potential to a less anodic potential [35].…”

Electrosynthesis and electrochromic properties of free‐standing copolymer based on oligo(oxyethylene) cross‐linked 2,2’‐bithiophene and 3,4‐ethylenedioxythiophene

“…A free‐standing film can avoid the collapse and improve the mechanical property for their potential application in organic electronic devices. As we know, boron trifluoride diethyl ether (BFEE) is an ideal choice for fabricating a free‐standing PTh film compared to a neutral medium . However, BFEE has run many researchers off with its toxicity.…”