The Electrosynthesis and Characterization of Thienyl-Group-Bearing Acrylic Polymer as Precursor for Electrochemical Reaction of Thiophene Side-Chain

The precursor thienyl-group-bearing acrylic polymer (TE-PAA-co-PMMA), obtained with 3-Ethyl acrylate-thiophene (TE-AA) and methyl methacrylate through free radical polymerization, was prepared electrochemically to free-standing, processible and conducting conjugated PTE-PAA-co-PMMA film by direct anodic oxidation in CH2Cl2 containing 50% boron trifluoride diethyl etherate (BFEE). The structure, electrochemical, optical, thermal properties and morphology of as-formed electropolymer were systematically investigated by FT-IR, cyclic voltammetry, UV-vis, thermogravimetry and scanning electron microscopy. Cyclic voltammetry studies demonstrated that the precursor can be reversibly oxidized and reduced accompanied by obvious color changes from dark blue to transmissive yellow-green and the electropolymer has good redox activity as well as excellent electrochemical stability. Additionally, fluorescence spectra show that the so-obtained crosslinked polymer is still good blue-light emitter.