Thin films of poly(3-hexadecyl pyrrole) (P3HDP) nanoparticles have been fabricated by using Langmuir-Blodgett film deposition technique. The structures and morphology of the films were studied by using infrared spectroscopy, scanning and transmission microscopes. The experimental results demonstrated that the nanoparticles were formed by self-assembling P3HDP at air-water surface. The water contact angles of these films with different deposition layers were measured to be as high as 110°.
Poly(3-methylthiophene) (PMeT) electrosyn-thesized by direct oxidation of 3-methylthiophene in boron trifluoride diethyl etherate (BFEE) has been studied by Raman spectroscopy in the temperature scale of 123-458 K. Experimental results demonstrate that the thermal stability of PMeT in the oxidized state is much lower than that of the polymer in the neutral state. Furthermore, during the cooling process, the conformation of neutral species changes from a coil-like state into a rod-like state, while the conformation of the oxidized species does not change.
Polypyrrole-polystyrene sulfonic acid (PPy-PSSA) composite films have been electrosynthesized in an aqueous solution of PSSA. The electro-active films exhibit cation exchange during the redox process. Infrared, Raman and energydispersive spectroscopic results demonstrated that the polyanion of PSS- is co-deposited into the PPy matrix and couldn't be stripped from the film extensively by dedoping. The doping level together with dipolaron content of the PPy-PSSA composite film increases during electrochemical polymerization process. SEM images revealed that the composite film has smooth and compact morphology and AFM pictures suggested that PPy chains are possibly grown perpendicular to the electrode surface. TGA tests indicated that the composite films has much better thermal stability than that of pure PPy.Furthermore, electrochemical studies showed that the relaxation process at certain holding potential has great effect on the shape of the cyclic voltammetric curves of PPy-PSSA composite film. The composite film exhibits cation and anion exchange during the redox process after undergoing the relaxation step. It is more difficult for divalent anion to enter the polymer matrix than a univalent ion, and a large cation such as (CH3CH2CH2CH2)4N+ cannot be involved in the ion exchange process.
Electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) was first used for the characterization of polyfuran (PFu) films that had been formed electrochemically on an Au electrode. The polyfuran was measured in high oxidation state, intermediate oxidation state and reduction state, respectively. As the oxidation level is increased, the ionic conductivity of PFu/BF4-increases. And impedance studies on PFu show that the anion BF4- appears to be mobile with a high diffusion coefficient of approximately 10-8 cm2 @ s-1.
Polypyrrole microstructrues with morphology like bowls, cups, goblets and bottles have been electrochemically generated by direct oxidation of pyrrole on p-silicon substrate in the aqueous solution of camphorsulfonic acid. The wellordered microstructures can stand upright on the working electrode surface and their morphological features can be easily controlled by changing the electrochemical polymerization conditions. The growing process of microstructures was studied by scanning electron microscopy. The microstructures made ofpolypyrrole films in doped state were characterized by Raman and Infrared spectra.
