Electrocopolymerization of pyrrole with bis(4‐aminobutyl)polydimethylsiloxane

Abstract

PurposeThe purpose of this paper is to synthesise the block copolymer of pyrrole (Py) with bis(4‐inobutyl)polydimethylsiloxane (DA.PDMS) by electrochemical method. The characterisation of the insoluble block copolymers, P(Py‐b‐DA.PDMS), was performed by cyclovoltammetric measurements, solid‐state conductivity and DSC measurements. The surface morphology of the copolymers was examined with scanning electron microscope (SEM).Design/methodology/approachElectropolymerisation process was performed potentiostatically and potentiodynamically. Redox behaviour of the resulting copolymer films was investigated. In‐situ spectroelectrochemical measurement was carried out on indium thin oxide (ITO) electrodes.FindingsThe ionisation potentials (Ip), electron affinity (Ea), optical band gap (Eg), peak potentials (Ep), and doping degree (y) of copolymers were calculated by using in‐situ spectroelectrochemical measurement results. The copolymers have slightly lower doping degree, band gap, Ip and Ea values than homopolymer. Copolymers had the conductivities of 10‐5 S/cm and had Tg values.Research limitations/implicationsThis study can also be focused on obtaining conductive copolymer with insulator DA.PDMS blocks on the PPy chain by one‐step polymerisation.Practical implicationsThis work provides technical information for the synthesis and characterisation of conducting block copolymer by electrochemical method.Originality/valueChange in optical and electrical properties of the P(Py‐b‐DA.PDMS) shows the role of the individual properties of the copolymer blocks. While the DSC scan of PPy showed no transition temperature, which is a characteristic property of conducting copolymers, P(Py‐b‐DA.PDMS) had Tg values. This might be due to the inclusion of the DA.PDMS blocks on the PPy chains.