Synthesis And Polymerization Of Perfluoroalkylated 3, 4-ethylenedioxythiophene

The conjugated conductive polymers have shown brilliant properties in many applied fields in the past thirty years, such as plastic cells, solar cells, antielectromagnetic wave materials, light emitting diodes (LEDs), smart chips, organic transistors, sensitive cells, display cells and molecule circuit etc.Polythiophene and their derivatives have been studied extensively for their environmental adaptation and thermal stability. Among the polythiophene derivatives, poly (3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) has attracted significant attention in recent years because of its conductivity, good electrochemical cyclability, high transparency and high thermal stability in the doped conducting state. A number of research projects have already been undertaken with the aim of developing various applications such as antistatic coatings, electro chromic devices, electrochemical capacitors, biosensors and chemical sensors. But it is insoluble and infusible, at the same time, it is difficult to be processed.In order to improve the physical.and chemical properties of PEDOT, manyresearch groups have modified the monomer 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT). Various substituents such as alkyl, alkoxy groups are introduced to the ethylene bridge of EDOT. The introduction of alkyl groups can improve the solubility of polythiophenes, but the chemical stability of the side chains are not sufficient, they are easily oxidated.Perfluoroalkyl-cantaining molecules and polymers have attracted interest because of their hydrophobicity, rigidity, electrical and thermal properties and self-organization behavior. Thiophene has been substituted with a variety of perfluoroalkyl groups with the aim of controlling the electronic structure and organization of conjugated polymers based on the polythiophene backbone.Based on these facts, it is envisaged that the introduction of perfluoroalkyl to EDOT will lead to a new type of conductive material. We designed and synthesizedperfluoroalkylated 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT-CeFn). To compare perfluoroalkylated poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT-C6Fi3) with PEDOT, we have synthesized the monomer EDOT. At the first, we synthesized EDOT according to the literature, on the other hand, we designed a new synthetic route of EDOT on the basis of literature and carried out the synthesis. The new route reduced the synthetic steps and improved the overall yield.We obtained PEDOT and (PEDOT-C6Fi3) by oxidative chemical and electrochemical polymerizations. These polymers were tested and characterized, PEDOT-CeFo has a better solubility and conductivity than PEDOT.