Electrosynthesis of poly(3-methylthiophene) films: salt effect on the electrochemical and impedance properties

Abstract

We studied the electrosynthesis of poly(3-methylthiophene) films in different electrolytes, i.e. 0.1 M quaternary ammonium salt solutions in acetonitrile. The analysis of the different results enabled us to explain the role of the cations and the anions of the electrolyte (doping agents) in the electrochemical synthesis and film properties. The films obtained with tetramethylammonium hexafluorophosphate (TMAPF6) are more electroactive than those prepared using tetramethylammonium tetrafluoroborate (TMABF4). This unexpected difference of behavior is due to the difference of hygroscopic properties of the two salts. We then characterized the films by electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. This technique, used to investigate the electrochemical properties, allowed us to virtually design identical electrical-equivalent circuits for the two types of film (prepared either with TMAPF6 or with TMABF4). We noted dissimilarities in the values of the components of those equivalent circuits. The different components were separately studied and their differences were explained by the salt effects.