Quantitative electrosynthesis and electrodissolution of a conducting polymer

Summary form only given. The electrochemical oxidation of 2,5-di-(-2-(thienyl)-pyrrole), (SNS), under constant current density of 0.5 mA.cm/sup -2/, in 0.1 M LiClO/sub 4/ acetonitrile solution, produces a black polymer on a platinum electrode. The electrogeneration consumes one electron by monomeric molecule incorporated to the polymer. This value was obtained from the consumed electrical charge and the weight of the obtained polymer. The polymer is partially soluble in acetonitrile and insoluble in 0.1 M LiClO/sub 4/ acetonitrile solution. The electrochemical reduction of the polymer promotes a quantitative dissolution in that electrolyte. A microgravimetric control of the polymer film shows a quantitative dissolution at different current densities, ranging between 0.1 and 1 mA.cm/sup -/2. The polarization of the film at higher overvoltages than 1 V promotes the progressive insolubility of the polymer, probably due to reticulation processes. Those behaviours open new ways in several technological fields: electrophotography and electroreprography, microelectronics, sensors, ionic screens and other devices.