In situ FTIR spectroelectrochemistry of poly[2-(3-thienyl)ethyl acetate] and its hydrolyzed derivatives

Poly[2-(3-thienyl)ethyl acetate] (PTEtAc) was chemically synthesized and transformed to partially hydrolyzed PTEtAc (PTEtAcOH) and poly[2-(3-thienyl)ethanol] (PTEtOH). The influence of the acetoxy and hydroxyl terminal functionalities in the side groups on the electrochemical properties of these polyalkylthiophenes was studied by cyclic voltammetry and in situ FTIR spectroelectrochemistry. The cyclic voltammograms point to a chemically reversible behaviour of the p-doping process for PTEtAc and PTEtAcOH, while for PTEtOH the redox activity of the polymer film is lost during consecutive potential scans.The attenuated total reflection Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (ATR-FTIR) was used to investigate the p-doping of the three different type of thiophene polymer films. In situ FTIR spectra taken at different electrode potentials in a cyclovoltammetric scan display the doping induced changes of the polymer pattern. Important differences in the behaviour of the polymers were observed and interpreted in terms of different film structures.