Polymers, composites, and characterization of conducting polyfuran and poly(2-bromoaniline)

Polyfuran (PFu), poly(2-bromoaniline) (P2BrAn), and P2BrAn/PFu composites were synthesized via coupling with various solvents and oxidants. 2-Bromoaniline was polymerized with ferric chloride (FeCl3) and ammonium peroxydisulfate [(NH4)(2)S2O8] in an aqueous HCl medium. PFu was synthesized with FeCl3 and antimony(III) chloride (SbCl3) in anhydrous media [chloroform (CHCl3) and acetonitrile (CH3CN)]. Furan was polymerized with both salts in a CHCl3 medium, whereas it could be polymerized with only FeCl3 in a CH3CN medium. The new electrically conducting composites were prepared by chemical oxidative polymerization with PFu synthesized with SbCl3 and P2BrAn. The polymers and composites were characterized with conductivity, magnetic susceptibility, Fourier transform infrared, ultraviolet-visible spectra, thermogravimetric analysis, and scanning electron microscopy measurements. PFu(SbCl3) had the lowest thermal stability. Thus, the thermal stability of PFu was increased by the preparation of composites. The chemical structures of P2BrAn and the composites contained quinone-imine units along the polymer chain according to the ultraviolet-visible results. The magnetic susceptibility measurements indicated that the polymers and composites were diamagnetic or paramagnetic. (c) 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc.