Processable dodecylbenzene sulfonic acid (DBSA) doped poly(N-vinyl carbazole)-poly(pyrrole) for optoelectronic applications

• Published in: Designed monomers and polymers 2017-01, Vol.20 (1), p.368-377
• Main Authors: Hammed, W. A., Rahman, M. S., Mahmud, H. N. M. E., Yahya, R., Sulaiman, K.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Ammonium peroxodisulfate; ammonium persulfate; Benzene; Benzenesulfonic acids; biphasic; Carbazoles; Chemical polymerization; Copolymers; dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid; Electrical resistivity; Field emission microscopy; Field emission spectroscopy; Fourier transforms; Free radicals; Morphology; Optical properties; Optoelectronics; Oxidizing agents; poly N-vinyl carbazole; Polymerization; polypyrrole; Polypyrroles; Polyvinyl carbazole; Room temperature; Sodium dodecylbenzenesulfonate; Solvents; Thermodynamic properties
• ISSN: 1568-5551; 1385-772X; 1568-5551
• DOI: 10.1080/15685551.2016.1271086

A soluble poly (n-vinyl carbazole)-polypyrrole (PNVC-Ppy) copolymer was prepared through oxidative chemical polymerization wherein dodecyl benzene sulfonic acid (DBSA) was used as a dopant to facilitate polymer-organic solvent interaction and ammonium persulfate (APS) was used as an oxidant. Compared with undoped PNVC-Ppy, the DBSA-doped PNVC-Ppy copolymer showed higher solubility in some selected organic solvents. The composition and structural characteristics of the DBSA-doped PNVC-Ppy were determined by Fourier transform infrared, ultraviolet-visible, and X-ray diffraction spectroscopic methods. Field emission scanning electron microscopic method was employed to observe the morphology of the DBSA-doped PNVC-Ppy copolymer. The electrical conductivity of the DBSA-doped PNVC-Ppy copolymer was measured at room temperature. The conductivity increased with increasing concentration of APS oxidant, and the highest conductivity was recorded at 0.004 mol/dm 3 APS at a polymerization temperature of −5 °C. The increased conductivity can be explained by the extended half-life of pyrrole free radical at a lower temperature and a gradual increase in chain length over a prolonged time due to the slow addition of APS. Furthermore, the obtained soluble copolymer exhibits unique optical and thermal properties different from those of PNVC and Ppy.