Synthesis and characterisation of electrical conducting polymers/co-polymers based on omega functionalised 3-alkylthiophenes

Abstract

The aim of this project is to study polythiophene-polystyrene and polythiophene- PMMA graft copolymers. The project started with the synthesis of the key monomers 3-(omega-bormoalkyl)thiophenes. A series of novel polymers, poly-[3-(omega-bormoalkyl)]thiophenes, based on this monomer was synthesised and characterised. A novel monomer,3-{omega-[1-(p-vinylphenyl)]alkyl}thiophene, was synthesised and characterised. Through a two-step polymerisation procedure, a series of polystyrene- polythiophene graft copolymers was created based on this monomer. These novel copolymers were fully characterised. Synthesising and characterisation of another novel monomer, 11-thiophen-3-yl-undec-1-en-3-one, was the key for polythiopehen-PMMA graft copolymerisation. The second series of graft copolymers was found to be easier to process and had better conductivities compared to the polythiophene-PS system.