Electropolymerization of acetonitrile solutions containing aniline and thiophene

The effect of thiophene on the electropreparation and properties of polyaniline was investigated. The presence of thiophene in solutions of aniline in acetonitrile accelerates the formation and causes an improvement in the conductivity of polyaniline films. A catalytic mechanism related to the role of thiophene cation radicals which involves chemical and electrochemical oxidation steps is proposed. In acidic solutions containing higher thiophene to aniline concentration ratios thiophene enters into the structure of the polymer forming a copolymer. The structure and properties of this novel conducting polymer were elucidated using cyclic voltammetry, GCMS, elemental analysis and DSC methods.