Chemical and Electrochemical Syntheses of Conducting Polymers

Abstract

Polymers can be prepared by using chemical and/or electrochemical methods of polymerization. The majority of the redox polymers has been synthesized by chemical polymerization. Electrochemically active groups are either built in the polymer structure inside the chain or as a pendant group (prefunctionalized polymers, are incorporated into the polymer phase in the course of the polymerization, or fixed at the polymer network in an additional step after the coating procedure (postcoating functionalization). Several other alternative synthetic approaches exist, in fact virtually the whole arsenal of synthetic polymer chemistry have been exploited. From the applied point of view the electrochemical polymerization of cheap, simple aromatic, and heterocyclic compounds is of utmost interest, the reaction is usually an oxidative polymerization however, reductive polymerization is also possible. Electrochemical polymerization is preferable, especially if the polymeric product is intended to be used as a polymer film electrode, thin layer sensor, in microtechnology etc., because the potential control is a precondition of the production of good-quality material and the polymer film is formed at the desirable spot that serves as an anode during the synthesis. Chemical route is recommended if large amounts of polymer are needed. The polymers are obtained in an oxidized. High conductivity state containing in corporated counterions from the solution used in the preparation procedure. The mechanism and the kinetics of the electropolymerization are also discussed.