THE APPLICATION OF ULTRASONIC-WAVES TO THE ELECTROCHEMICAL POLYMERIZATION OF THIOPHENE

The electrochemical polymerization of thiophene was carried out both in the presence and absence of ultrasonic waves. Without irradiation, the anode potential increased with increasing current density. Polymerization at high potential gave a low polymer yield and produced macroscopically heterogeneous films. Ultrasonic irradiation resulted in an improvement of polymer yield and in a lowering of the anode potential during polymerization. The effects were especially marked when the polymerizations were carried out at low temperature, low monomer concentration, and high current density. These results are explained by the formation of diffusion layer in the vicinity of the electrode during electrochemical reactions.