Counterions polythiophene properties

It has been mentioned already that polypyrrole (25) and polythiophene (26) play an important role as electrical conductors and polymeric anodes in battery cells [2,47,226]. Since the charging and discharging of the conjugated polymer is accompanied by the incorporation and removal of counterions it is clear that the material can also act as a carrier of chemically different anions which influence the physical, chemical and physiological properties of the material [292]. With regard to the full structural elucidation of the polymers it must be added, however, that the electropolymerization process of pyrrole and thiophene does not provide a clean coupling of the heterocycles in the 2,5-positions. Instead, the 3- and 4-position can also be involved giving rise to further fusion processes under formation of complex polycyclic structures [47]. 

Some conjugated polymers, such as polythiophene and polyaniline were synthesized already in the last century [8a,b], It is not surprising that, for example, polyaniline has played a major role in research directed toward synthetic metals because it possesses a relatively stable conducting state and it can be easily prepared by oxidation of aniline, even in laboratories without pronounced synthetic expertise (see section 2.6). It is often overlooked, however, that a representation of, for example, polypyrrole or polyaniline by the idealized structures 1 and 2 does not adequately describe reality, since various structural defects can occur (chart 1). Further, there is not just one polypyrrole, instead each sample made by electrochemical oxidation must be considered as a unique sample, the character of which depends intimately on the conditions of the experiment, such as the nature of the counterion or the current density applied (see section 2.5). Therefore, one would not at all argue against a practical synthesis, if the emphasis is on the active physical function and the commercial value of a material, even if this synthesis is quick and dirty . Care must be exercised, however, to reliably define the molecular structure before one proceeds to develop structure-property relationships and to define characteristic electronic features, such as effective conjugation length or polaron width. 

Studies of the chemical properties of polythiophenes have been limited. As with polypyrroles, a hydrophobic backbone is formed, and the polymer has ion-exchange properties. Modification of chemical properties by incorporation of appropriate counterions is not so readily addressable because polymerization must be carried out from nonaqueous solution and occurs at more anodic potentials compared to pyrrole. 

The text covers all relevant aspects of PEDOT beginning with a historical view on conducting polymers and polythiophenes, in particular. The story continues by describing the invenhon of PEDOT based on the development of the suitable monomer EDOT and subsequent important polymerization routes to the conducting polymer. The properties of PEDOT depend on counterions, which led to the development of PEDOTPSS, or poly(3,4-ethyl-enedioxythiophene) poly(styrenesulfonate), dispersions, which is the basic form of the commercial product. In the second part of the book, important applications in electronics and organic electronics concomitant with technical and commercial aspects are extensively described. 

---