A Facile Electrochemical Grafting of Poly(3,3′-dioctyl-2,2′-bithiophene) on a Gold Surface Modified with a Chemisorbed Monolayer of a 3-Mercapto-2,2′-bithiophene

The chemisorption and polymerization of thiophenes functionalized with a pendant alkanethiol moiety are expected to lead to more durable polythiophene films, which will have important implications for device applications. The formation and polymerization of a chemisorbed monolayer of a thiolbithiophene followed by the electrochemical grafting of a mercaptobithiophene onto such a monolayer are described. The advantages of this approach are discussed, including the expected facile transfer of electrons from the gold electrode to the thienylene ring through the pendant sulfur.