Charge transport and thermal properties of polyindole, polycarbazole and their derivatives

The time and temperature dependences of conductivity of four polymers namely polyindole, polyindole-5-carboxylic acid, polyearbazole, and poly(N-vinylcarbazole) are analysed to understand the aging process and conduction mechanism. The polymers are prepared electrochemically. The conductivity data obtained over a temperature range are fitted to Arrhenius and Mott equations. The thermal degradation of both doped and dedoped samples of the four polymers in air and N-2 atmosphere has been followed using thermogravimetric (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The thermal activation energies are evaluated by Horowitz and Metzger method. (C) 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.