ESR spectroelectrochemistry of functionalised long side chain derivatives of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)

Electrochemically synthesised polymers of ω-bromine 2-oxaalkyl derivatives of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) have been studied using in-situ ESR spectroelectrochemistry. While these compounds are versatile intermediates en route to EDOT derivatives bearing special functional groups, their polymers themselves show interesting properties. Results indicate differences in potential dependencies of concentration of spins, ΔBPP width and g-factor between the two polymers, indicating an influence of the alkyl side chain length on specific properties of paramagnetic charge carriers appearing in these polymers in the course of their redox processes. Compared to their parent polymer-PEDOT, some similarities in the behaviour of charge carries may be observed notably the hysteresis of potential dependence of concentration of spins and ΔBPP width, indicating that the doping-dedoping mechanism of these polymers may resemble the one in PEDOT.