Electropolymerization of 2-phenylthiophene

2-Phenylthiophene (P2PT) has been electrochemically polymerized in pure boron trifluoride diethyl ether (BFEE) solutions or in a composite electrolyte of BFEE and trifluoroacetic acid (TFA). The addition of a certain amount of TFA into BFEE lowered the oxidation potential of the monomer, accelerated the polymerization and also increased the current efficiency of the electrosynthesis. The morphology and electrochemical behavior of as-grown P2PT films were studied by scanning electron microscopy and cyclic voltammetry. Poly (2-phenylthiophene) in dedoped state is soluble in usual organic solvents such as tetrahydrofuran and chloroform, etc. Its structure has been examined by infrared, Raman and UV-visible spectroscopies. The molecular weight of the polymer was measured to be about 800 Da. Fluorescent spectral studies indicate the polymer is a blue-green light emitter.