Fablication of Networked Polythiophene Layer on Polynorbornene Substrate via Vapor Phase Polymerization of Bifunctional Thiophene Monomer

Abstract

Synopsis: Vapor phase polymerization of a bifunctional thiophene monomer was carried out as a new method for fabricating networked polythiophene layers on polymer substrates. With using a polynorbornene substrate coated with iron (III) chloride as an oxidant, oxidative polymerization of a bifunctional thiophene monomer on the substrate surface was performed with supplying the monomer by its transpiration with using water as a carrier. The copolymerization of the bifunctional thiophene monomer with a monofunctional thiophene in a similar manner allowed to control crosslinking density of the formed networked polythiophene. This copolymerization afforded the corresponding networked polythiophene layer on the polynorbornene substrate effi ciently in an oxidatively doped state by iron (III) chloride. The length of conjugation of the networked polythiophene was comparable to that of the polythiophene obtained by a similar vapor phase polymerization of the monofunctional thiophene.