Lyotropic Liquid Crystal Electrochemical Polymerization of Thiophene-Based Monomers: Polymerization in Cholesteric Liquid Crystal and Columnar Phase

Synthesis of conductive polymer poly([thiophene]-[benzo[1,2,3]thiadiazole] [thiophene]) (abbreviated as P(T-Btdaz-T)) was achieved by electrochemical polymerization in hydroxypropyl cellulose (HPC)/N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) in liquid crystal state. The polymer thus obtained shows fingerprint texture, which is derived from helical structure of the HPC in cholesteric liquid crystal state. Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy measurements revealed that the polymer film is P(T-Btdaz-T)/HPC composite. Circular dichroism optical absorption spectroscopy measurements show that the polymer has the optical activity. Next, electrochemical polymerization of 3,4-ethylene-dioxythiophene (EDOT) was carried out in columnar phase liquid crystal. The polymer transcribes the columnar structure and shows optical structure resembling columnar liquid crystal electrolyte solution.