STABILITY AND DEGRADATION OF SOME ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTING POLYMERS

The oxidative degradation reactions of polyacetylene, prepared from a soluble precursor polymer, are described and compared with those of more common polymers and of polyacetylene prepared by the conventional method. Doping to low levels with electron acceptors removes the electrons involved in oxygen doping and the polymer becomes much more stable in air. Doping to high levels leads to new instabilities as the polymer reacts slowly with its counter-ions. Studies of polypyrrole and polythiophene show that these polymers are much more stable than polyacetylene but still undergo degradation reactions. The general features of their degradation mechanisms are discussed.