Electrosyntheses of freestanding poly (3-(4-fluorophenyl)thiophene) films in boron trifluoride diethyl etherate

High quality free-standing poly (3-(4-fluorophenyl)thiophene) (PFPT) films with conductivity of 10−1 S/cm were electrosynthesized in boron trifluoride diethyl etherate (BFEE) by direct anodic oxidation of the monomer 3-(4-fluorophenyl)thiophene (FPT) on stainless steel sheet. As-formed flexible and shiny PFPT films can be cut into various shapes by a knife or a pair of scissors. The structure, thermal stability and morphology of PFPT films were studied by FT-infrared, UV–vis, Raman spectroscopy thermogravimetric analysis and scanning electron microscopy, respectively.