High-quality poly( p-phenylene) film prepared by electrochemical polymerization of benzene at a stainless steel electrode

Abstract

Poly( p-phenylene) (PPP) film has been electrochemically deposited onto a stainless steel electrode surface by direct oxidation of benzene in BF 3diethyl ether solution at an applied potential of 1.7 V (vs Ag AgCl ). The morphology, conductivity and the mechanical property of the film were studied. As-grown PPP film has a conductivity of 2.7 S cm −1. It has a high modulus of 1.2 × 10 10 dyne cm −2 and a large tensile strength of 550–650 kg cm −2. Furthermore, this film was flexible and could be easily cut into any shapes, such as fibres, circles, squares and triangles.