Conducting poly(vinyl chloride)-graft-polythiophene: synthesis, characterization, and materials properties

A novel, and facile strategy for chemical, and electrochemical grafting of polythiophene onto poly(vinyl chloride) (PVC) is reported. For this purpose, a thiophene-functionalized PVC macromonomer was synthesized via a condensation reaction between phenylamine-functionalized PVC, and thiophene-2-carbaldehyde. The resultant macromonomer subsequently used in chemical, and electrochemical oxidation copolymerization with thiophene monomer to afford a poly(vinyl chloride)-graft-polythiophene (PVC-g-PTh) graft copolymer. The PVC-g-PTh obtained was characterized by means of Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy, and its electroactivity behavior was verified under cyclic voltammetric conditions. The electrical conductivities of the synthesized samples were measured using samples in which the conductive materials were sandwiched between two Ni electrodes at room temperature using the four probe technique. Moreover, thermal behaviors of the synthesized polymers were investigated by means of and thermogravimetric analysis.