Synthesis and characterization of a novel electroactive polymer with oligoaniline and nitrile groups

By oxidative coupling polymerization approach, we have synthesized a novel electroactive polymer with alternating phenyl-capped aniline tetramer in the main chain and nitrile group in the side chain. The detailed characteristics of the as-synthesized polymer were systematically studied by Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectra, nuclear magnetic resonance ((1)H NMR) and gel permeation chromatography (GPC). UV-vis spectra were used to monitor the oxidation process of the polymer. Moreover, the electrochemical behavior of the polymer was explored by cyclic voltammogram (CV), showing that the intrinsic electroactivity of the oligoaniline was maintained in the polymer and two distinct reversible oxidative states were observed. The thermogravimetric analysis (TGA) indicated that the polymer possessed good thermal resistance due to the introduction of the rigid and polar nitrile groups in side chains. The reactivity of nitrile group provides the probability of modifying and functionalizing the polymer further, and creating a series of novel functional polymers.