Electropolymerization Furnishes Conducting Polyfuran Films

Key words

furans - oligomers - conducting polymers - electropoly-merization

Significance

Polyfurans have received less research attention than their pyrrole and thiophene analogues. This is due in part to the high oxidation potential of furan. Harsh electropolymerization conditions result in defect-rich, non-conducting polyfuran. To lower the potential required to form polyfuran, Sheberla and co-workers synthesize oligofurans 1–7. Potentiostatic polymerization for all of these monomers occurs at 0.75 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). The resulting polyfurans are found to have conductivities comparable with electropolymerized polythiophenes.

Comment

Electropolymerization of furan occurs at potentials in excess of 1.8 V (vs. Ag/AgCl). The onset oxidation potentials for 1–7 are under 0.7 V, and follow expected trends based on conjugation length and degree of alkyl substitution. The high-quality polyfurans also undergo oxidative doping at lower potentials than analogous poly(terthiophene)s, resulting in increased stability under the operating conditions. This study may establish polyfuran as a competitor to other conducting polymers.