SYNTHESIS, CHARACTERIZATION, AND LANGMUIR-BLODGETT-FILMS OF FLUORINATED POLYTHIOPHENES

Fluorinated poly(alkylthiophenes) and poly(alkoxythiophenes) have been chemically and electrochemically synthesized. Poly[3-(tridecafluorononyl)thiophene] has been found to be soluble in octafluorotoluene and has been characterized by H-1 NMR spectroscopy, while poly[3-[(pentadecafluorooctyl)-oxy]-4-methylthiophene] and poly(3'-perfluorohexylterthiophene) are insoluble in common or fluorinated organic solvents. Electrical, electrochemical, and optical properties of the fluorinated polythiophenes are compared with those of their respective alkyl analogues. Langmuir-Blodgett films have been obtained from pure poly[3-(tridecafluorononyl)thiophene]. Monolayers of this polymer have shown thermochromic properties similar to those of spin-coated films, indicating that the interchain interactions are not the dominant factor in this thermally induced conformational transition.