Charge transfer interactions in some poly[[o-(trimethylsilyl)phenyl]acetylene]-acceptor complexes

Abstract

Charge transfer (CT) interactions between poly[[o-(trimethylsilyl)phenyl]acetylene] or poly(o-Me3SiPA) and some electron acceptors were studied by ultraviolet-visible and infrared absorption spectroscopy and by x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The electron acceptors used included iodine, bromine, o-chloranil, o-bromanil, 2,3-dichloro-5,6-dicyano-p-benzoquinone (DDQ), and tetracyanoethylene (TCNE). Varying degrees of CT interactions were observed in all of the polymer/acceptor complexes studied. The electrical conductivities σ of the organic acceptor complexes exhibited a strong acceptor concentration dependence at low acceptor levels, with the DDQ complex exhibiting the highest σ. The extent of CT and the redistribution of charges resulting from the CT in all the complexes were revealed by XPS. The poly(o-Me3SiPA)/I2 complex film lost iodine spontaneously while more than half of the bromine in the poly(o-Me3SiPA)/Br2 complex existed as covalently bonded bromine, even at low halogen loading.