Clean synthesis electrochemical methods

Electrochemical methods have been widely used for the synthesis of conjugated polymers since they represent an easy, clean and versatile way of obtaining the targeted materials as coatings on conductive substrates. The subject was recently reviewed by Heinze et al. both from the theoretical and experimental points of view. Theoretical aspects focusing on the electrochemistry of PPy are also discussed in a recent book chapter. In the following sections will be briefly discussed the choice of experimental conditions suited for PPy deposition under various forms and for various applications. 

The anodic oxidative polymerization of aniline is the preferable method to obtain a clean and better-ordered polymer as a thin film. The electrochemical method also offers the opportunity to carry out various in-situ spectroscopic studies, conductivity and even determination of doping levels at various potentials by use of a quartz crystal microbalance. Electrochemical synthesis is achieved by using any of the following ... 

Ultrasound, applied via a simple cleaning bath, has been shown to be beneficial in the electrochemical synthesis of Se2 and Se anions [41]. The method shows considerable advantages over previous techniques used for the preparation of these anions involving electro-reduction with a sacrificial Se electrode. A further major advantage of the sonoelec-trochemical method is that it is also applicable to the synthesis of the corresponding Te2 and Te anions. The Se and Te anions produced electrochemically can be used in situ for the synthesis of selenides and tell-urides in good yield (60 to 90%) via nucleophilic displacement from haloalkanes (Scheme 10.14) [42]. 

In summary, effective methods have been identified for the preparation of conductive polymer/superconductor and molecular metal/superconductor composite structures. Here both solution-processing strategies and electrochemical deposition techniques for the preparation of the composite structures have been developed. Moreover, a powerful new high-Tc self-assembly method based on the spontaneous adsorption of amine reagents onto cuprate surfaces has been developed that affords precise control of the synthesis of polymer/superconductor composite systems. With these methods, the hybrid structures can be prepared with little chemical or physical damage to either conductor component material. Convincing evidence for the clean combination of the molecular and superconductor components has been obtained from electrochemical, conductivity, contact resistance, and electron microscopic measurements. 

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