Synthesis and characterization of highly crystalline conjugated polyparaphenylene and polythiophene conductive polymer thin-films

Molecular, crystalline and morphological characteristics of polyparaphenylene (PPP) and polythiophene (PTh) conjugated polymers are reported here. Thin films of PPP and PTh exhibit molecular- and crystalline-anisotropic structures, obtained intrinsically by a single-step approach of electrochemical method. The unique advantage of controlled electrochemical polymerization/crystallization is highlighted by ex-situ high-temperature X-ray diffraction, morphology, luminescence, and ex-situ electrochemical X-ray diffraction data. Structural analysis in terms of degree of crystalline order (Xcr) as the crystalline-gauging parameter and X-ray diffraction profile data as molecular order probe have been reported. The electrochemical thickness effect, high degree of crystalline order (Xcr=99%), and thin film and molecular anisotropy are highlighted in terms of supramolecular order of the highly conjugated polymer molecule