The effect of ion-polymer binding on ionic diffusion in dicarbazole-based conducting polymers

An electrochemical polymerization and characterization is reported on a series of eight dicarbazole-type conducting polymers with different attached functional groups. The influence of the electronic character of the subgroup on the ionic conductivity properties of the polymers was examined. Impedance spectroscopy measurements were used to set the ionic chemical diffusion coefficients, D, in the polymer matrix at a variety of doping levels, for each of the polydicarbazoles. We relate D dependency with potential to morphological and electronic processes in the polymer occurring during oxidation. By combination of cyclic voltammetry and impedance spectroscopy for part of the series we reveal that the diffusion of ions in the matrix is easier in polymers were the functional group is highly electron-attracting. (c) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.