Electrochemical synthesis of network polygermanes and polysilanes

Network sigma-conjugated polymers, i.e., a butyl substituted network polygermane, (BuHxGe)(n) (x=0-2), a butyl substituted network polysilane, (BuHxSi)(n) (x = 0-2), and an octyl substituted network polysilane, (OctH(x)Si)(n) (x = 0-2), were synthesized by electrochemical reduction of butyltrichlorogermane, butyltrichlorosilane, and octyltrichlorosilane, respectively, for the first lime. A polymer of (BuHxGe)(n), (x= 0-2) had absorption which extended to 900 nm, while a polymer of (BuHxSi)(n) (x= 0-2) and a polymer of (OctH(x)Si)(n) (x= 0-2) had absorption which extended to 500 and 800 nms, respectively. It was found that the reported electrochemical method gave a-conjugated polymers with more highly developed network structures compared to the other synthetic pathways. The structure of the polymers was successfully controlled from linear to highly developed network structures by controlling the charge for electrosynthesis. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science S.A. All rights reserved.