Characterization of BF4- doped polythiophene via pyrolysis mass spectrometry

Abstract

In this work, electrochemically polymerizated polythiophene have been characterized by direct pyrolysis MS and Curie point pyrolysis GCMS techniques. The effect of doping level, and type of the dopant on thermal characteristics and decomposition products of polythiophene have been investigated. It has been determined that the thermal degradation of polythiophene occurs in two steps, the first being the loss of the dopant, and the second being the degradation of the polymer main chain. The temperature range at which the loss of dopant observed depends on the type of the dopant. However, thermal degradation of the polythiophene chains does not depend on the type of the dopant used.