Responsive Gels with the Polymer Containing Alternating Naphthalene Diimide and Fluorinated Alkyl Chains: Gel Formation and Responsiveness as Well as Electrical Conductivity of Polymer Thin Films

Abstract

AbstractA new electroactive polymer 1 with alternating NDI (naphthalene diimide) moieties and fluorinated alkyl chains was prepared and characterized. Gels of polymer 1 were formed in several solvents. Interestingly, gels of polymer 1 exhibited responsiveness toward N2H4, F− and CN−. Absorption and ESR spectroscopic studies revealed that such responsiveness is owing to the reduction of NDI moieties into the respective NDI.−. In addition, thin films of polymer 1 were easily prepared with spin‐coating technique and the electrical conductivity of thin films reached 52.4 S/m after exposure to N2H4 vapor.