Polythiophenes, process for their preparation and their use.

The invention relates to new polythiophenes with high electrical conductivity, their production by oxidative polymerization of the corresponding thiophenes and the use of the polythiophenes for the antistatic treatment of substrates which are not or only poorly conductive in the electric current, in particular of molded plastic parts and as electrode material for rechargeable batteries.

Polythiophenes, their production by electrochemical or chemical oxidation of the corresponding thiophenes and the use of the polythiophenes for the antistatic treatment of substrates which are not or only poorly conductive to electrical current are known; see for example:

(a) EP-AO 206 133:

From this, a method for applying layers of conductive, polymeric, heterocyclic compounds produced with the aid of oxidizing agents to the electric current is known or poorly conducting substrates. However, only the antistatic treatment of the substrates by means of polypyrrole produced by oxidative polymerization of pyrrole on the substrates is described;

(b) EP-AO 253 594:

This publication describes specific thiophenes substituted in the 3- and / or 4-position by (substituted) alkyl and / or alkoxy groups and the electrically conductive polymers obtained from them by chemical or electrochemical oxidation. According to the data given in the publication, the polythiophenes obtained by chemical oxidation have only poor conductivity;

(c) U.S. Patent 4,521,589:

This publication describes the preparation of polymeric 3-alkyl-thiophenes by reacting 3-alkyl-2,5-dihalothiophenes with magnesium in the presence of nickel compounds in inert organic solvents. The electrical conductivity of the undoped polythiophenes obtained in this way is given as 9 x 10⁴¹⁴ S / cm;

(d) EP-AO 203 438 and EP-AO 257 573:

Both publications relate to the production of substituted conductive polythiophenes which are soluble in organic solvents and the use of the solutions of these soluble polythiophenes for the antistatic treatment of the electrical current of substrates which are not or only poorly conductive. The production of the soluble substituted conductive polythiophenes or their solutions are carried out by electrochemical oxidation of the corresponding substituted thiophenes (EP-A 257573) or by reacting the corresponding 2,5-dihalothiophenes with magnesium in the presence of nickel catalysts (EP-A 203438); the latter process is practically impractical on an industrial scale and the polythiophenes obtained by electrochemical oxidation have only a low conductivity.

Surprisingly, it was found that a special type of 3,4-disubstituted polythiophenes is particularly suitable for the antistatic treatment of substrates which are not or poorly conductive because of their high electrical conductivity and because they also have a particularly simple way by chemical oxidation of the underlying it, 3,4-disubstituted thiophenes can be prepared directly on the substrates to be antistatically treated using conventional oxidizing agents. It has been found that the choice of the oxidizing agent allows the polymerization rates of the special thiophenes to vary and can be adjusted so that the oxidizing agent and substituted thiophenes no longer have to be applied separately to the antistatic substrate, as has hitherto been required in the antistatic treatment with polypyrrole is but that substituted thiophenes and oxidizing agents can be applied together in a solution or printing paste to the substrates to be finished.

The invention therefore relates to polythiophenes, the structural units of the formula<chemistry id="chem0001" num="0001"><img file="EP0339340A2_D0001.tif" /></chemistry> included in the A is an optionally substituted C₁-C₄ alkylene radical, preferably an optionally substituted by alkyl groups methylene, an optionally substituted by C₁-C₁₂ alkyl or phenyl groups, ethylene-1,2-radical or a cyclohexylene-1,2-radical .

The polythiophenes are preferably composed of the structural units of the formula (I).

Representatives of the optionally substituted C₁-C₄ alkylene radicals are preferably the alkylene-1,2 radicals which are derived from the 1,2-dibromoalkanes, such as those used in the bromination of α-olefins such as ethene and propene-1 , Hexen-1, Octen-1, Decen-1, Dodecen-1 and styrene are available; the cyclohexylene-1,2-, butylene-2,3-, 2,3-dimethylene-butylene-2,3- and pentylene-2,3-radical may also be mentioned. Preferred residues are the methylene, 1,2-ethylene and 1,2-propylene residue.

The invention further relates to a method for producing these polythiophenes; the process is characterized in that 3,4-disubstituted thiophenes of the formula<chemistry id="chem0002" num="0002"><img file="EP0339340A2_D0002.tif" /></chemistry> in the A has the meaning given under formula (I), polymerized with oxidizing agents suitable for the oxidative polymerization of pyrrole or electrochemically in an organic solvent which is inert under the reaction conditions used.

The oxidative polymerization by chemical means is surprising insofar as EP-A O 206 133 describes pyrrole and thiophene as monomers which can be oxidized in the same way, but it has been shown that thiophene can be oxidized by oxidizing agents suitable for the oxidative polymerization of pyrrole, eg FeCl₃, is not polymerizable.

The polythiophenes according to the invention, which are composed of the structural units of the formula (I), are outstandingly suitable for the antistatic finishing of substrates which are not or only poorly conductive in the electric current. The polythiophenes according to the invention are preferably produced directly on the substrates to be treated antistatically by the production process specified above.

The invention therefore furthermore relates to a method for the antistatic finishing of substrates which are not or only poorly conductive of the electric current, in particular of molded plastic parts, by applying a layer of electrically conductive organic polymers to the surface of the substrates; the process is characterized in that a layer of polythiophenes is produced on the surface of the substrates by oxidative polymerization, which layer consists of structural units of the formula<chemistry id="chem0003" num="0003"><img file="EP0339340A2_D0003.tif" /></chemistry> are built in the A is an optionally substituted C₁-C₄ alkylene radical, preferably an optionally substituted by alkyl groups methylene, an optionally substituted by C₁-C₁₂ alkyl or phenyl groups, ethylene-1,2-radical or a cyclohexylene-1,2-radical .

Some of the 3,4-disubstituted thiophenes of the formula (II) required for the preparation are known and / or by processes known in principle by reacting the alkali metal salts of the 3,4-dihydroxy-thiophene-2,5-dicarboxylic acid esters with the corresponding alkylene -vic-dihalides and subsequent decarboxylation of the free 3,4- (alkylene-vic-dioxy) thiophene-2,5-dicarboxylic acids available (see, for example, Tetrahedron 1967 Vol. 23, 2437-2441 and J. Am. Chem. Soc. <u style="single">67</u> (1945) 2217-2218).

The oxidative polymerization of the 3,4-disubstituted thiophenes of the formula (II) by chemical oxidation is generally carried out, depending on the oxidizing agent used and the desired reaction time, at temperatures from -10 to + 250 ° C., preferably at temperatures from 0 to 200 ° C. .

Organic solvents which are inert under the reaction conditions are: aliphatic alcohols such as methanol, ethanol and propanol; aliphatic ketones such as acetone and methyl ethyl ketone; aliphatic carboxylic acid esters such as ethyl acetate and butyl acetate; aromatic hydrocarbons such as toluene and xylene; aliphatic hydrocarbons such as hexane, heptane and cyclohexane; Chlorinated hydrocarbons such as dichloromethane and dichloroethane; aliphatic nitriles such as acetonitrile; aliphatic sulfoxides and sulfones such as dimethyl sulfoxide and sulfolane; aliphatic carboxamides such as methyl acetamide and dimethylformamide; aliphatic and araliphatic ethers such as diethyl ether and anisole. Furthermore, water or mixtures of water with the aforementioned organic solvents can also be used as the solvent.

The oxidizing agents used are those suitable for the oxidative polymerization of pyrrole; these are described, for example, in J. Am. Chem. Soc.<u style="single">85</u>, 454 (1963). For practical reasons, preference is given to inexpensive and easy-to-handle oxidizing agents such as iron III salts such as FeCl₃, Fe (ClO₄) ₃ and the iron III salts of organic acids and inorganic acids containing organic residues, furthermore H₂O₂, K₂Cr₂O₇, alkali metal and ammonium persulfates, Alkali perborates and potassium permanganate.

The oxidative polymerization of the thiophenes of the formula II theoretically requires 2.25 equivalents of oxidizing agent per mole of thiophene (see, for example, J. Polym. Sc. Part A, Polymer Chemistry Vol. 26, p. 1287 (1988). Practically, however, the oxidizing agent is used in one certain excess, for example an excess of 0.1 to 2 equivalents per mole of thiophene.

The use of the persulfates and the iron (III) salts of organic acids and the inorganic acids containing organic residues has the great advantages in terms of application that they do not have a corrosive effect and, above all, that they oxidize the 3,4-disubstituted thiophenes of the formula ( II) runs so slowly that thiophenes and oxidizing agents can be applied together from a solution or a printing paste to the substrate to be antistatically treated. After the solution or paste has been applied, the oxidation can be accelerated by heating the coated substrate.

With the other oxidizing agents mentioned above, such as FeCl₃, H₂O₂ or perborates, the oxidative polymerization proceeds so quickly that separate application of oxidizing agent and thiophene to the substrate to be finished is necessary, but heating is no longer necessary.

As iron-III salts containing organic residues of inorganic acids, for example, the iron-III salts of the sulfuric acid semiesters of C₁-C₂₀-alkanols, for example the Fe-III salt of lauryl sulfate.

Examples of iron III salts of organic acids are: the Fe III salts of C₁-C₂₀ alkyl sulfonic acids, such as methane and dodecane sulfonic acid; aliphatic C₁-C₂₀ carboxylic acids such as 2-ethylhexylcarboxylic acid; aliphatic perfluorocarboxylic acids such as trifluoroacetic acid and perfluorooctanoic acid; aliphatic dicarboxylic acids, such as oxalic acid and especially aromatic, optionally substituted by C₁-C₂₀-alkyl groups, such as benzenesulfonic acid, p-toluenesulfonic acid and dodecylbenzenesulfonic acid.

Mixtures of these aforementioned Fe III salts of organic acids can also be used.

If the thiophene and the oxidizing agent are applied separately, the substrate to be antistatically treated can first be treated with the solution of the thiophene and then with the solution of the oxidizing agent or first with the solution of the oxidizing agent and then with the solution of the thiophene. When thiophene and oxidizing agent are applied together, the substrate to be finished is coated only with a solution containing thiophene and oxidizing agent. Since part of the thiophene evaporates when it is applied together, the solutions are mixed with a smaller amount of oxidizing agent corresponding to the expected loss of thiophene.

The solutions may also contain organic binders which are soluble in organic solvents, such as polyvinyl acetate, polycarbonate, polyvinyl butyrate, polyacrylic acid esters, polymethacrylic acid esters, polystyrene, polyacrylonitrile, polyvinyl chloride, polybutadiene, polyisoprene, polyethers, polyesters, silicones and pyrrole / acrylic acid ester and vinyl acetate / which are soluble in organic solvents. Acrylic acid ester and ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymers. Water-soluble binders such as polyvinyl alcohols can also be used as thickeners.

The solutions to be applied to the substrates to be finished preferably contain 1 to 30% by weight of the thiophene derivative of the formula (II) and 0 to 30% by weight of binder, both percentages by weight based on the total weight of the solution.

The solutions are applied to the substrates by known processes, for example by spraying, knife coating, brushing or printing.

The substrates which are antistatically or electrically conductive by the process according to the invention include, in particular, moldings made from organic plastics, in particular films made from polycarbonates, polyamides, polyethylenes, polypropylenes, polyvinyl chloride and polyesters, but also inorganic materials, for example ceramics such as aluminum oxide , Silicon dioxide and glass can be treated antistatically by the process according to the invention.

The layer thickness of the applied coating after drying is generally 0.1 to 100 μm, depending on the desired conductivity and the desired transparency of the coating.

The solvents can be removed after the solutions have been applied by simple evaporation at room temperature. However, in order to achieve higher processing speeds, it is more advantageous to remove the solvents at elevated temperatures, for example at temperatures from 20 to 250 ° C., preferably 40 to 200 ° C. The removal of the solvents at elevated temperature is also more advantageous because it has been found that the electrical conductivity of the antistatic coating can be significantly increased by thermal post-treatment of the coatings at temperatures from 50 to 250 ° C., preferably from 100 to 200 ° C. by up to a power of ten. The thermal aftertreatment can be connected directly with the removal of the solvent or can also be carried out at intervals after the completion of the antistatic coating.

The duration of the heat treatment is 5 seconds to 5 minutes, depending on the shape and material of the coated plastic molded part and the type of polymer used for the coating.

The heat treatment can be carried out, for example, in such a way that the coated plastic molded part is moved at such a speed through a heating chamber at the desired temperature so that the desired residence time is achieved at the selected temperature or at a desired temperature heating plate in contact for the desired dwell time.

When using the method according to the invention for the antistatic finishing of plastic films, a technically particularly interesting embodiment consists in combining the heat treatment of the coated films with a mechanical deformation of the films. Such simultaneous heat treatment and mechanical deformation takes place in the production of plastic molded parts from plastic films by deep-drawing the films.

After removing the solvents (drying) and before the thermal aftertreatment, it may be advantageous to wash out the excess oxidizing agent from the coating with water.

With the aid of the method according to the invention for antistatic finishing, adhesive and mechanically resistant coatings with surface resistances of up to 1 Ω can be obtained in a simple manner.

A particularly advantageous embodiment of the process according to the invention for the antistatic finishing of plastic molded parts, in particular plastic foils, when thiophene and oxidizing agent are applied separately, consists in firstly providing the antistatic plastic molding with a solution of the oxidizing agent in an organic solvent insoluble in water or contains only poorly soluble organic binder, to coat, to remove the organic solvent from this coating, to treat the plastic molding coated with the oxidizing agent with a solution of the thiophene in such an organic solvent that neither dissolves the plastic material to be treated antistatically nor the binder and the oxidizing agent applied to the plastic surface; even after this treatment, to remove the organic solvent again from the layer applied to the molding and to finally remove the non-polymer-bound inorganic compound, for example unused oxidizing agent, by washing with water.

When thiophene and oxidizing agent are applied together, the coating obtained after removal of the solvent is washed out with water, especially if iron III salts were used as the oxidizing agent and these iron salts were used in the coating when the anti- static plastic was used further - disrupt molded parts; this is the case, for example, when using antistatic foils for packaging electronic components.

The process according to the invention is particularly suitable for the production of antistatic plastic films, for example from polyesters, polycarbonates and polyamides. Because of their transparency and permanent antistatic properties, which are also resistant to mechanical and thermal stress, these plastic films which are antistatically finished according to the invention are suitable for the production of transparent packaging parts by deep drawing. The method according to the invention is also suitable for the production of printed circuit boards for the electronics industry. For the production, plastic plates are printed with the thiophene derivatives of the formula (II) to be used according to the invention and the corresponding, optionally thickened solutions containing oxidizing agents.

The invention further relates to the use of the new polythiophenes of the formula I as electrode material for rechargeable batteries.

The use of polythiophenes in rechargeable batteries is known per se (see, for example, ACTUAL. CHIM. <u style="single">10</u> (1985) 15-23; J. APPL. ELECTROCHEM.<u style="single">17</u> (1987) 607 to 612). In the second-mentioned publication, however, the low stability of the polythiophenes and in SYNTH. METALS<u style="single">18</u> (1987) 625 to 630 pointed out that when used as an electrode material for rechargeable batteries, the stability of the polythiophenes is clearly inferior to that of polypyrrole.

Surprisingly, however, it was found that the new poly-3,4-disubstituted thiophenes are not only clearly superior in stability not only to the known polythiophenes but even also to polypyrrole and are therefore very suitable for use as electrode material for rechargeable batteries. It was found that the new polythiophenes have a lower self-discharge rate and can be charged and discharged (= cyclized better) more frequently than polypyrrole. The increased stability even makes it possible to use the new polythiophenes in water-containing electrolyte systems, for example also in alkaline batteries.

The electrochemical oxidative polymerization of the 3,4-disubstituted thiophenes of the formula (II) can be carried out at temperatures from -78 ° C. to the boiling point of the solvent used. Electrolysis is preferably carried out at temperatures from -20 ° C. to 60 ° C.

Depending on the monomer used, the electrolyte used, the selected electrolysis temperature and the current density used, the reaction times are 0.5 to 24 hours.

If the thiophenes of the formula (II) are liquid, the electropolymerization can be carried out in the presence or absence of solvents which are inert under the electrolysis conditions; the electropolymerization of solid thiophenes of the formula (II) is carried out in the presence of solvents which are inert under the electrolysis conditions. In certain cases it can be advantageous to use solvent mixtures and / or to add solubilizers (detergents) to the solvents.

Examples of solvents which are inert under the electrolysis conditions are: water; Alcohols such as methanol and ethanol; Ketones such as acetophenone; halogenated hydrocarbons such as methylene chloride, chloroform, carbon tetrachloride and fluorocarbons; Esters such as ethyl acetate and butyl acetate; aromatic hydrocarbons such as benzene, toluene, xylene; aliphatic hydrocarbons such as pentane, hexane, heptane and cyclohexane; Nitriles such as acetonitrile and benzonitrile; Sulfoxides such as dimethyl sulfoxide; Sulfones such as dimethyl sulfone, phenylmethyl sulfone and sulfolane; liquid aliphatic amides such as methylacetamide, dimethylacetamide, dimethylformamide, pyrrolidone, N-methylpyrrolidone, caprolactam, N-methylcaprolactam; aliphatic and mixed aliphatic-aromatic ethers such as diethyl ether and anisole; liquid ureas such as tetramethyl urea or NN-dimethyl-imidazolidinone.

For the electropolymerization, the 3,4-disubstituted thiophenes of the formula (II) or their solutions are mixed with electrolyte additives. Free acids or conventional conductive salts which have a certain solubility in the solvents used are preferably used as electrolyte additives. As electrolyte additives have, for example proven: free acids such as p-toluenesulfonic acid, methanesulfonic acid, also salts with alkylsulfonate, arylsulfonate, tetrafluoroborate, hexafluorophosphate, perchlorate, hexafluoroantimonate, hexafluoroarsenate and hexachloroantimonate anions and optionally alkali metal or alkali metal, alkali metal, alkali metal, alkaline earth metal Phosphonium, sulfonium and oxonium cations.

The electrolyte additives are used in such an amount that a current of at least 0.1 mA flows during the electrolysis.

The concentrations of the monomeric thiophenes can be between 0.01 and 100% by weight (in the case of liquid thiophene); the concentrations are preferably 0.1 to 5% by weight. The concentration of the monomers in the electrolysis solutions influences the morphology of the polythiophene which precipitates; at low concentrations, e.g. From 1 g to 3 g / l electrolysis solution, thin polymer films with a large surface are formed, at higher concentrations thick, compact polythiophene films are obtained. Polythiophene films with a large surface area have proven particularly useful for use in batteries.

The electropolymerization can be carried out batchwise or continuously. The known materials such as noble metals and steel, for example in the form of platinum sheets, steel sheets, noble metal or steel nets, soot-filled polymers, metal-coated insulator layers, carbon felts, etc. have proven to be suitable as electrode materials. Electrodes with a swellable polymer film, e.g. a polyvinyl chloride film are coated; These swellable polymer film supports give the polythiophene films deposited in them particularly favorable mechanical properties.

The current densities for electropolymerization can vary within wide limits; Usually current densities of 0.0001 to 100, preferably 0.01 to 40 mA / cm² are used. At these current densities, voltages of approximately 0.1 to 50 V are established.

The thiophenes of the formula (II) can also be copolymerized with other polymerizable heterocycles, for example with pyrrole. It has been found that the mechanical properties of the polythiophene films can be improved without impairing their advantageous electrical properties if the alkylene-dioxythiophenes of the formula (II) are mixed with 1 to 60% by weight of pyrrole (% by weight based on the total weight of the monomers to be polymerized) copolymerized. It was also found that by copolymerizing pyrrole with small amounts, about 1 to 20 wt .-% (wt .-% based on the total weight of the monomers to be polymerized) of alkylene-dioxythiophenes of the formula (II) stabilization of the electrical properties of Polypyrrole films is achieved.

For use as electrodes in rechargeable batteries, the polythiophene films produced during the electrolysis can be left on the electrodes; however, they can also be removed and applied to metal nets. In addition, it is also possible to process the polythiophenes with the addition of polymeric binders and, where appropriate, finely divided, conductive materials such as conductive carbon black, conductive tin dioxide doped with indium or antimony, metal powders or metal flakes, and use these molded parts in the batteries.

example 1

The solution of 8.11 g FeCl₃ in 100 ml acetonitrile is mixed at 0 ° C with stirring with 2.84 g 3,4-dioxyethylene thiophene. After stirring briefly, the precipitate is filtered off, washed with acetonitrile and finally dried.

Yield: 1.1 g, electrical conductivity of the powder compact: 2.3 S / cm (determined according to the four-point method).

When the greenish blue clear filtrate is mixed with 100 ml of cyclohexane, a further fraction of poly (3,4-dioxyethylene) thiophene is obtained.

Yield: 1.33 g, electrical conductivity of the powder compact: 3.7 x 10⁻² S / cm (determined according to the four-point method).

Example 2

The solution of 1 g of 3,4-ethylenedioxy-thiophene and 5 g of iron III-p-toluenesulfonate in 45 g of a 1: 1 isopropanol / acetone mixture is applied to a polycarbonate film using a hand coater (wet film thickness: about 25 µm corresponding to a dry film thickness of about 3 µm). After removing the solvent at room temperature, the coated film is stored for a further 12 hours. It then has a surface resistance (R_IF) from 100 Ω.

A sample of the film thus obtained is heated to 180 ° C. for 10 minutes. After cooling, the sample then has a surface resistance (R_IF) from 60 Ω.

Example 3

The solution of 1 g of 3,4-ethylenedioxy-thiophene, 5 g of iron III-p-toluenesulfonate and 5 g of polyvinyl acetate in 25 g of a 1: 1 isopropanol / acetone mixture is placed on a polycarbonate film at room temperature using a hand coater applied. The film is dried to constant weight at room temperature.

The film thus obtained has a surface resistance (R_IF) from 1000 Ω.

A sample of the film is heated to 180 ° C for 10 seconds; the film then has a surface resistance (R_IF) from 120 Ω. Both the film aftertreated at room temperature and at 180 ° C are transparent.

Example 4

A solution of 1 g of 3,4-ethylenedioxy-thiophene, 2 g of iron III-p-toluenesulfonate and 5 g of polyvinyl acetate in 45 g of a 1: 1 isopropanol / acetone mixture is applied to a PVC film using a hand coater ( Wet film thickness: about 25 µm, corresponding to dry film thickness of about 3.5 µm). The film is dried to constant weight at room temperature (15 hours). The surface resistance (R_IF) of the foil is 420 Ω.

The drying time can be shortened to 1 hour by heating the film coated with the solution to 50 ° C.

Example 5

The suspension of 0.5 g of polyvinyl alcohol, 0.3 g of ammonium peroxodisulfate and 0.5 g of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene in 10 ml of demineralized water is knife-coated onto a polyester film (wet film thickness: approximately 25 μm, corresponding to a dry film thickness of approximately 2.5 µm). To remove the water, one half of the film is stored at room temperature to constant weight (15 hours); the other half heated to 60 ° C for 1 hour.

Both film halves have a surface resistance (R_IF) from 8 x 10³ Ω.

This antistatic film is suitable, for example, as a support for photographic films.

Example 6

A solution of 0.6 g FeCl₃, 1 g polyvinyl acetate and 19 g acetone is doctored onto a polyamide film with a hand coater (wet film thickness: about 25 µm corresponding to a dry film thickness of about 1-2 µm). After removing the solvent (drying), the coated film is immersed in a 5% solution of 3,4-ethylenedioxy-thiophene in a (1: 1) n-hexane / toluene mixture for 2 seconds. After drying at room temperature, the coated film is washed with running water until the wash water contains practically no Fe³⁺ ions.

A transparent film is obtained; Surface resistance (R_IF) of the film: about 10³ Ω.

Example 7

A solution of 0.25 g of 3,4-ethylenedioxy-thiophene, 1 g of iron III-p-toluenesulfonate and 1 g of polyvinyl acetate in 18 g of a 2: 1 isopropanol / acetone mixture is placed on a polycarbonate film using a hand coater doctored (wet film thickness: about 25 µm corresponding to a dry film thickness of 1 to 2 µm). After removing the solvent (drying) at 60 to 80 ° C, the coated film is washed with running water until the wash water contains practically no Fe³⁺ ions.

A transparent film is obtained; Surface resistance (R_IF) of the film: 350 Ω.

A sample of the film is heated to 180 ° C for 5 seconds. The surface resistance of the film drops to R as a result of this thermal treatment_IF: 20 Ω.

Example 8

The solution of 10 g of polyvinyl acetate and 20 g of iron III tosylate in 100 g of isopropanol and 50 g of acetone is knife-coated onto a polycarbonate film (thickness: 200 μm) using a hand coater. The film is dried to constant weight at room temperature. The dry film thickness of the coating is approximately 1 µm.

The film coated in this way is then cut into three sections of equal size. The individual pieces are 5 seconds long the first section in a 5% solution of pyrrole in cyclohexane (slide A), the 2 part in a 5% solution of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene in cyclohexane (slide B) and the 3rd section immersed in a 5% solution of 3,4-propylene-1,2-dioxy-thiophene (film C).

The three film samples A, B and C are dried to constant weight at room temperature and then washed in running water until practically no iron III ions can be detected in the wash water.

Subsequently, the film pieces A, B and C are aged at 90 to 100 ° C in a saturated water vapor atmosphere and their surface resistance is determined as a function of time. The measured values ​​obtained for the individual pieces of film are plotted in the diagram in FIG. 1. The high resistance to hydrolysis of the antistatic coatings obtained with the polythiophenes according to the invention can be seen from the curves obtained for the individual film samples. It can be seen from the diagram that the surface resistance of the macrolon film finished with the polythiophenes according to the invention practically does not change, while the surface resistance of the macrolon film finished with polypyrrole increases rapidly after a short time.

In another experiment, a strip of film A and film B (dimensions of the strips: 2 cm x 5 cm) was provided with contacts made of conductive silver (distance between the two contacts: 4 cm).

The two strips of films A and B provided with the contacts were each immersed individually in a beaker filled with 1N aqueous HCl. The pH of the aqueous HCl solutions was then increased uniformly by adding aqueous NaOH and at the same time the electrical resistance of the film strips was determined at the various pH values. The measurements showed that the electrical resistance of the film B remained approximately constant over the pH value range from 1 to 10, the resistance increased only from 12.5 x 10² Ω at pH1 to 17.5 x 10² Ω at pH 10, while the resistance of the film A increases strongly, namely from 4 x 10 x Ω at pH1 to 5.5 x 10⁶Ω at pH 10.

Example 9

The electrical conductivities given in the following examples for the polythiophenes were, unless otherwise stated, determined on powder compacts using the 4-electrode method.

An electrolytic cell provided with two platinum electrodes was used for the electrochemical oxidation of the alkylene dioxythiophenes; Area of ​​the individual platinum electrodes: 2 x 8 cm²; Electrode distance: 1 cm.

This electrolysis cell is charged with the solution of 284 mg (2 mmol) of 3,4- (ethylene-1,2-dioxy) thiophene and 1.71 g (5 mmol) of tetrabutylammonium perchlorate in 100 ml of acetonitrile. It is electrolyzed for 4 hours at room temperature at a constant current of 1.5 mA (current density: 0.094 mA / cm²). A voltage of 3.15 V is set. The polythiophene formed is deposited on the anode as a blue-black coating. After the electrolysis has ended, the coating is washed with acetonitrile and dried at 50 ° C. in a high vacuum.

After the mechanical separation of the coating from the anode, 46 mg of poly-3,4- (ethylene-1,2-dioxy) thiophene perchlorate with an electrical conductivity of about 200 S / cm are obtained.

Using the same procedure, the solutions (2 mmol of thiophene + 5 mmol of electrolyte in 100 ml of acetonitrile) of the thiophenes and electrolytes given in the table below were used in the electrolysis cell described above at a constant current of 1.5 mA and a current density of 0.094 mA / cm² electrolyzed at the temperatures given in the table. The blue-black polythiophene deposits obtained during the electrolysis were worked up as described above. The table below shows the voltages that arise during electrolysis, the electrolysis time, the yields of polythiophenes and the electrical conductivities of the polythiophenes obtained.<tables id="tabl0001" num="0001"><img file="EP0339340A2_D0004.tif" /></tables>

Example 21

An electrolysis cell equipped with a platinum electrode (electrode area: 4 x 4 cm²) and a carbon felt electrode SPC 7016 (0.05 kg / m² from Sigri) of the same area (electrode distance: 2 cm) is treated with the solution of 5.68 g (40 mmol) of 3,4- (ethylene-1,2-dioxy) thiophene and 4.34 g (20 mmol) of tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate in 250 ml of acetonitrile. The carbon felt electrode is connected as an anode. It is electrolyzed for 2 hours at a constant current density of 5 mA / cm². The blue-black deposit which deposits on the anode is washed with acetonitrile after the end of the electrolysis and dried at 50 ° C. in a high vacuum.

66 mg of poly-3,4- (ethylene-1,2-dioxy) thiophene tetrafluoroborate with a conductivity of 31 S / cm are obtained by careful mechanical separation of the grown covering.

Example 22

An electrolysis cell equipped with two platinum electrodes (area of ​​the individual electrodes: 2 x 8 cm²; electrode spacing: 1 cm) is treated with the solution of 284 mg (2 mmol) of 3,4- (ethylene-1,2-dioxy) -thiophene and 1.71 g (5 mmol) tetrabutylammonium perchlorate in 100 ml of acetonitrile. The platinum electrode connected as an anode is coated with a 0.06 mm thick polyvinyl chloride film.

Electrolysis is carried out for 24 hours at a temperature of 20 ° C. and a constant current of 1.5 mA (current density: 0.094 mA / cm²); this creates a voltage of 2.1 V.

The blue transparent film that forms on the anode during electrolysis is removed from the electrode after drying at 50 ° C. in a high vacuum.

A cross-sectional view of this film shows that a 0.002 mm thick layer of poly-3,4- (ethylene-1,2-dioxy) -thiophene perchlorate has formed in the polyvinyl chloride film on the side facing the electrode. The conductivity of this layer is 200 S / cm (determined according to the 4-electrode method on the film side facing the electrode).

Example 23

(Cyclic voltametric determination of the absorption and release capacity for electrical charges (chargeability and discharge) of the poly-3,4- (ethylene-1,2-dioxy) -thiophene films)

For the determination, a film of poly-3,4- (ethylene-1, ethylene-1, prepared by electrochemical oxidation of 3,4- (ethylene-1,2-dioxy) -thiophene using a current density of 0.5 mA / cm² 2-dioxy) thiophene hexafluorophosphate used; the electrode coated with this film was in a 0.1 molar solution of tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate in propylene carbonate.

In the cyclic voltametric measurement, the polymer film showed an oxidation peak at +0.120 V and a reduction peak at -0.457 V (against Ag / AgCl) at a feed rate of 10 mV / s. The cyclovoltametric measurement showed that the polymer film in the range between -1.28 V and +1.42 V (against Ag / AgCl) at a feed rate of 0.5 mV / s with a charge loss of only about 0.01% per Cycle reversibly loading and unloading (cyclizing). The degree of loading is 33 mol%, the loading capacity 62 Ah / kg based on the neutral polymer. The very low self-discharge rate of the film indicates that it is not changed in the charged state by overoxidation effects or by additional side reactions. The loading capacity of the polymer film is plotted as a function of the number of charges and discharges (cycles) in the diagram shown in FIG. 2. The position of the measuring points in the diagram shows that the loading capacity has practically not changed after 15 cycles.

In principle, a similar degree of loading (30 mol%) is achieved with polypyrrole films which have been produced and cyclized under the same conditions as with poly-3,4- (ethylene-1,2-dioxy) thiophene. However, the charge losses during loading and unloading are considerable between -1.28 V and 1.42 V and amount to 5% per cycle.

In a second series of experiments, a 0.1 molar solution of lithium perchlorate in water was used as the electrolyte instead of the 0.1 molar solution of tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate in propylene carbonate.

The polymer film could be charged and discharged in this electrolyte with the same success. The discharge current decreased somewhat after the first few cycles, but reached a constant value after about 30 cycles. A comparable polypyrrole film could only be cyclized twice under the same conditions.

In a third series of experiments, one was prepared by electrochemical oxidation of 3,4- (ethylene-1,2-dioxy) thiophene potentiostatically at + 1.6 V (against Ag / AgCl) at an average current density of 0.5 mA / cm² Poly-3,4- (ethylene-1,2-dioxy) thiophene hexafluorate film used. The Pt electrode coated with the film was in a 0.1 molar solution of tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate in methylene chloride. The charge and discharge of the film was determined by cyclic voltammetry between -1.10 V and + 1.70 V at a feed rate of 2 mV / s. A degree of loading of 41 mol% was obtained. This corresponds to a loading capacity of 77 Ah / kg. The charge losses per cycle are 0.06%. The higher loading capacity is only associated with a slight increase in the loss rate. Polypyrrole films loaded and unloaded under the same conditions resulted in a charge loss of 15% for each cycle.