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Dopant macroinitiator for electropolymerisation and functionalisation of conducting polymer thin films
Author(s) -
Strover Lisa T,
Hackett Alissa J,
TravasSejdic Jadranka,
Malmström Jenny
Publication year - 2017
Publication title -
polymer international
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.592
H-Index - 105
eISSN - 1097-0126
pISSN - 0959-8103
DOI - 10.1002/pi.5452
Subject(s) - materials science , polymer , polymer chemistry , sulfonate , styrene , monomer , polymerization , grafting , methacrylate , dopant , atom transfer radical polymerization , copolymer , functional polymers , radical polymerization , conductive polymer , chemical engineering , composite material , doping , optoelectronics , engineering , metallurgy , sodium
Grafting of polymer brushes from conducting polymer (CP) thin films by controlled radical polymerisation provides a versatile route for the synthesis of functional, electroactive surfaces, with applications in diverse fields. However, one of the drawbacks of this approach is the difficulty of upscaling the synthesis due to the need for specialised CP precursor monomers functionalised with initiation sites. We herein describe an alternative approach to the synthesis of CP‐based polymer brushes whereby atom transfer radical polymerisation initiation sites are attached to a macrodopant incorporated into CP films during electropolymerisation. The facile electropolymerisation of commonly studied CPs with an initiator‐functionalised macrodopant – poly[(styrene sulfonate)‐ co ‐(2‐bromopropionyloxyethyl methacrylate)] – is demonstrated. The composite polymer films thus synthesised were used as substrates for grafting of hydrophilic polymer brushes. Although poly(styrene sulfonate) is commonly used as a macrodopant in CP films, its initiator‐functionalised derivatives have not previously been utilised in this manner. Despite the elegance of this approach, to the authors' knowledge, there have been no previous examples reported of utilising macromolecular dopants as initiators for subsequent grafting of polymer brushes. © 2017 Society of Chemical Industry