Enhanced molecular order in polythiophene films electropolymerized in a mixed electrolyte of anionic surfactants and boron trifluoride diethyl etherate

Handoko T Santoso; Virendra Singh; Kyriaki Kalaitzidou; Baratunde A Cola

doi:10.1021/am201823g

Enhanced molecular order in polythiophene films electropolymerized in a mixed electrolyte of anionic surfactants and boron trifluoride diethyl etherate

ACS Appl Mater Interfaces. 2012 Mar;4(3):1697-703. doi: 10.1021/am201823g. Epub 2012 Feb 14.

Authors

Handoko T Santoso¹, Virendra Singh, Kyriaki Kalaitzidou, Baratunde A Cola

Affiliation

¹ The George W. Woodruff School of Mechanical Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, Atlanta, Georgia 30332-0405, USA.

PMID: 22304492
DOI: 10.1021/am201823g

Abstract

We synthesized polythiophene (PTh) films on stainless steel electrodes using chronoamperometry in boron trifluoride diethyl etherate (BFEE) electrolyte with anionic surfactants. The presence of the anionic surfactants in BFEE reduced the oxidation potential of thiophene and increased the oxidation current during electropolymerization. The measured in-plane electrical conductivity of PTh films synthesized in the presence of anionic surfactants was up to 300% higher than that of films synthesized under similar conditions without surfactants. The observed increase in conductivity reflects the improved order and packing of polymer chains revealed by X-ray diffraction.

Publication types

Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't