Synthesis and Characterization of Poly[2,5-thiophenediyl(dimethylsilylene)]

Abstract

A polycarbosilane is prepared by condensation between dichlorodimethylsilane and dianionic species of thiophene. The structure of the polycarbosilane is characterized by spectroscopic methods, gel permeation chromatography and thermal analysis. This polymer shows strong u.v. absorption at λmax, as found for thiophene itself, which indicates that the σ-π interaction through the polymer backbone is not significant. The polymer is also found to be photodegradable upon illumination with u.v. light.