Electrochemical determination of diffusion coefficient of π-conjugated polymers containing ferrocene unit

The diffusion coefficient (D) of pi -conjugated polymers containing ferrocene unit in the polymer main chain in a 1:1 mixture of CH2Cl2 and CH3CN was determined from peak oxidation current observed in cyclic voltammetry of the polymers. The D value of the polymers was in a range of about 1 x 10-(12) -5 x 10(-12) m(2) s(-1), which was considerably smaller than those of ferrocene (D = 470 x 10(-12) m(2) s(-1)) and 1,1'-bis(phenylethynyl)ferrocene (2) (D = 68 x 10(-12) m(2) s(-1)) in accordance with the higher molecular weight of the polymer. Effects of the structure of the pi -conjugated polymers on the D value are discussed. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.