Thermal analysis, Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy of new polymeric material containing in-chain ruthenium complex: Poly-{trans-[RuCl2(vpy)4]-co-styrene} and poly-{trans-[RuCl2(vpy)4]-4 vinylpyridine-styrene}

This work reports the preparation and characterization of the binary copolymer poly-{trans-[RuCl2(vpy)4]-co-styrene} and the terpolymer poly-{trans-[RuCl2(vpy)4]-4 vinylpyridine-styrene}, obtained through the chemical reaction between trans-[RuCl2(vpy)4] (vpy is 4-vinylpyridine), 4-vinylpyridine and styrene (ST) using benzoyl peroxide. The synthesis was controlled by thin layer chromatography (TLC) and by monitoring the viscosity of the reaction medium. The resulting copolymers are characterized by means of UV-vis. spectroscopy, thermal analysis, Raman spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The thermal properties of the copolymer were reported by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG/DTA) and dynamic-thermal-mechanical analysis (DTMA). Raman spectroscopy results showed that the polymerization takes place from both the vinyl group of the metal complex monomer and the vinyl group of the vinyl monomer, demonstrating the complex incorporation in the polymer matrix. Additionally, the Raman results showed that the redox polymer structure of the copolymer is very similar to that of the monomer. The properties of both materials are discussed.