METHOD FOR LIVING SYNTHESIS OF CONDUCTING POLYMER INCLUDING REGIOREGULAR POLYMER, POLYTHIOPHENE, AND BLOCK COPOLYMER

• Main Authors: IOVU MIHAELA C, MCCULLOUGH RICHARD D, SHEINA ELENA E
• Format: Patent
• Language: English
• Published: 27.09.2012
• Subjects: CHEMISTRY; COMPOSITIONS BASED THEREON; MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED OTHERWISE THAN BY REACTIONSONLY INVOLVING UNSATURATED CARBON-TO-CARBON BONDS; METALLURGY; ORGANIC MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS; THEIR PREPARATION OR CHEMICAL WORKING-UP

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a method for living synthesis of conducting polymers.SOLUTION: Regioregular poly(3-alkylthiophenes) and other polythiophenes having good solubility, processability and environmental stability can be prepared by living polymerization. The polymerization method can afford regioregular poly(3-alkylthiophenes) in high yields. Kinetic study of polymerization has revealed the living character of this process. The molecular weight of poly(3-alkylthiophenes) is a function of the molar ratio of the monomer to a nickel initiator, and conducting polymers with relatively narrow molecular weight distribution (PDI<1.5) are now readily available. Sequential monomer addition results in new block copolymers containing different poly(3-alkylthiophene) segments, which further confirms the "livingness" of this system. Other synthetic methods can be used as well to conduct living polymerization. Blends and electronic devices can be prepared.