| Abstract: | Free-standing polyphenylene films, prepared by the electrochemical oxidation of benzene in an HF-benzene, two-phase system, were investigated. From electron microscope pictures, x-ray diffraction patterns, and infrared (IR) spectra of polyphenylene films and commercial polyphenylene powder it is concluded that the films, which are largely para linked, contain in addition a substantial amount of meta and possibly ortho linkages and are amorphous in nature. Doping with AsF5 increases the electrical conductivity of the otherwise insulating films to 10?4?10?2ohm?1cm?1; doped films are relatively stable in air. The lower conductivity of doped films with respect to reported values for chemically synthesized poly-p-phenylene appears to be the result of the amorphous nature of the films. |
