Electrochemical polymerization of pyrrole in cholesteric liquid crystals: Morphology and optical properties

Abstract

Electrochemical polymerization in a cholesteric liquid-crystal electrolyte was carried out. Polypyrrole thus synthesized in a cholesteric liquid-crystal electrolyte could be clearly seen to form a specific morphology. The polypyrrole films exhibited chiroptical properties and formed various surface structures such as Schlieren, Nazca-line, sea-anemone, and wire-loop structures. These structures that developed during polymerization were preserved even after washing. Moreover, no chiral molecule reacted chemically with the monomer during polymerization, and the electrolyte functioned only as a matrix chiral continuum. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.