Some Novel Conducting Polythiophene Derivatives: Theoretical Analysis, Synthesis, Characterization and Electroreological Properties

A series of alternating phylene and symmetrically bithiophene containing repeat units and the respective homopolymers have been synthesized and characterized by combining FTIR, UV-Vis spectroscopy, four probe conductivity measurement, TGA and SEM analysis. Quantum mechanical calculations of the structures and infrared spectra of the monomers and respective dimers were compared with experimental results. The polymers are soluble in N-methyl-pyrrolidone (NMP). The samples have conductivities of 10(-5) S/cm levels. Thermal degradation analysis results indicated that poly-bithiophene derivatives have higher thermal stabilities than poly-monothiophene derivatives. All samples exhibited different surface morphologies. The electrorheological (ER) properties of polymer suspensions in silicone oil were prepared and ER behavior was investigated as a function of shear rate, electric field strength and frequency.