Conductive copolymers of alkylthiophenes and methylmethacrylate

Abstract

An attempt to improve the solution processibility and the mechanical strength of electrically conducting polymer has been carried out by synthesizing random (block) copolymers of alkylthiophenes and methylmethacrylate, which is an effort to combine the merits of electrically conducting polymer and conventional nonconducting polymer within a single polymer species. Alkylthiophene-methylmethacrylate copolymers were synthesized through two steps: 1. Grignard coupling of diiodinated 3-alkylthiophenes, 2. radical anion polymerization of methylmethacrylate initiated by Grignard reagent. Using this approach, soluble 3-methylthiophene-methylmethacrylate copolymers have been prepared. A peel strength of 6.0 g/mm was obtained by peeling 12 micron thick copper foil from the surface of 3-butylthiophene-methylmethacrylate copolymer, which is superior to that obtained from poly(3-butylthiophene) (1.8 g/mm). Electrochemical studies indicate that these copolymers have less electroactivity and reversibility compared to their polyalkylthiophene homopolymers. Electrical and spectroscopic properties were measured.