Electrodeposition of polythiophene assisted by sonochemistry and incorporation of fluorophores in the polymeric matrix

This work studies the effect of an ultrasonic field of 530 kHz frequency on the electrodeposition of polythiophene in an acetonitrile solution using lithium perchlorate as background electrolyte. The results obtained show an increase in the polymer mass transfer produced and a more compact and homogenous morphology of the films yielded by sonoelectrochemistry. Electrodeposition of the polymer was also carried out in the presence of the fluorophores Harmane (1-methyl-9H-pyrido[3,4-b]indole) or BCCM (9H-pyrido[3,4-b]indole-3-carboxylic acid methyl ester). Confocal microscopy measurements performed on the films synthesised in the presence of these compounds showed that the latter are embedded in the polymer when it is sonoelectrogenerated at a potential of 2.2, 2.5 or 2.8 V. Films generated in the absence of ultrasound showed no fluorescence.