Preparation of N-grafted polyanilines with oligoether side chains by using ring-opening graft copolymerization of epoxide, and their optical, electrochemical and thermal properties and ionic conductivity

Ring-opening copolymerization of glycidyl phenyl ether (1,2-epoxy-3-phenoxypropane) on leucoemeraldine base polyaniline gave graft copolymers of polyaniline having oligoether side chains at the N position, and the N-grafted polyanilines were characterized by IR, NMR and UV-vis spectroscopy and elemental analysis. The degree of N-grafting and the length of the graft chain were controlled by adjusting the fed amounts of NaH and glycidyl phenyl ether. The polymers showed enhanced solubility in organic solvents, and their solutions indicated interesting optical properties such as solvatochromism and photoluminescence, which were influenced by the degree of N-grafting. The glass transition temperatures of the polymers and electrical conductivities of the polymer adducts with methanesulfonic acid could also be tuned by the N-grafting. The graft copolymers were electrochemically active and colour changes (electrochromism) were observed during their redox processes. The polymer could contain a lithium salt in high concentration.