Facile polymerization method for poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) and related polymers using iodine vapour

A simple polymerization at room temperature using iodine vapour for preparation of PEDOT and PProDOT and their soluble derivatives in neat form.

Recent advances in poly(3,4-ethylenedioxyselenophene) and related polymers

This review highlights the recent progress in synthesis, properties, applications and future outlook of PEDOS based conjugated polymers.

Solid-State Polycondensation via Ionic-to-Covalent Bond Transformation to Control Polymer Structure: Preparation of Porphyrin-Based Ladder Polymer

The controlled formation and the regular arrangement of polymer chains have been performed by novel solid-state polycondensation including the ionic-to-covalent bond transformation in the ionic molecular crystals. The combination of the tetra-anion and -cation of tetraphenylporphyrin derivatives, tetrakis(benzylpyridinium carboxylate), was found to form layered crystal structures and underwent thermal solid-state polycondensation, thus, releasing the pyridine and forming the benzyl ester linkages. Powder X-ray diffraction, when compared to the monomer crystal structure data, suggested that the ladder polymer was produced with a layered structure.

Effect of flexible linker length in 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene derivatives for solid state polymerization

EDOT-linker-EDOT was chosen as a prototype model monomer for solid state polymerization. The linker length can be up to three atoms while the four-atom linker monomer failed under SSP.

Influence of benzene ring number attached on non-conjugated 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene derivatives for solid-state polymerization

We chose the three-atom linker EDOT–CH₂–N(R)–CH₂–EDOT as a large platform to determine boundary conditions through the introduction of a rigid or bulky moiety and to accurately control the SSP behavior.

Investigation of the substitution effect on poly(bis-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene methine)s through solid state polymerization

EDOT–CH(R)–EDOT was chosen as a prototype model monomer for solid state polymerization (SSP). The aromatic moieties were first introduced in the branch chain in the polymer matrix.

Effect of monomers’ structure on self-acid-assisted polycondensation for the synthesis of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) and homopolythiophene

PEDOT and homopolythiophene were synthesized by self-acid-assisted polycondensation (SAAP) based on mono-halogen substituted thiophene derivative monomers. Our results reveal that substituted halogen (bromo or iodo) positions play an important role in SAAP.

Selective bromination of 2,5-bis(2-thienyl)pyrroles and solid-state polymerization through the β-carbon of pyrrole

Solid state polymerization (SSP) through β-C of pyrrole of the β,β′-dibrominated 2,5-bis(2-thienyl)pyrrole moiety to afford the bromine doped conjugated polymer.

Room temperature solid-state synthesis of a conductive polymer for applications in stable I₂-free dye-sensitized solar cells

A solid-state polymerizable monomer, 2,5-dibromo-3,4-propylenedioxythiophene (DBProDOT), was synthesized at 25 °C to produce a conducting polymer, poly(3,4-propylenedioxythiophene) (PProDOT). Crystallographic studies revealed a short interplane distance between DBProDOT molecules, which was responsible for polymerization at low temperature with a lower activation energy and higher exothermic reaction than 2,5-dibromo-3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (DBEDOT) or its derivatives. Upon solid-state polymerization (SSP) of DBProDOT at 25 °C, PProDOT was obtained in a self-doped state with tribromide ions and an electrical conductivity of 0.05 S cm⁻¹, which is considerably higher than that of chemically-polymerized PProDOT (2×10⁻⁶ S cm⁻¹). Solid-state ¹³C NMR spectroscopy and DFT calculations revealed polarons in PProDOT and a strong perturbation of carbon nuclei in thiophenes as a result of paramagnetic broadening. DBProDOT molecules deeply penetrated and polymerized to fill nanocrystalline TiO₂ pores with PProDOT, which functioned as a hole-transporting material (HTM) for I₂-free solid-state dye-sensitized solar cells (ssDSSCs). With the introduction of an organized mesoporous TiO₂ (OM-TiO₂) layer, the energy conversion efficiency reached 3.5 % at 100 mW cm⁻², which was quite stable up to at least 1500 h. The cell performance and stability was attributed to the high stability of PProDOT, with the high conductivity and improved interfacial contact of the electrode/HTM resulting in reduced interfacial resistance and enhanced electron lifetime.