Electropolymerization of bithiophene on Pt and Fe electrodes in an aqueous sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) micellar medium

A new method for preparing polythiophene films by electrochemical oxidation of bithiophene in an aqueous micellar medium on iron and platinum electrodes is described. It is shown that sodium dodecylsulfate (SDS) increases the solubility of bithiophene in water, lowers its oxidation potential and inhibits the dissolution of an iron electrode. Polybithiophene films prepared by this technique are very homogeneous and adherent to the electrode surface. X-ray photoelectron and IR spectroscopy indicates that both dodecylsulfate anion and perchlorate are involved in the polymer doping process. Raman analysis shows that the quantity of structural defects in the polymer chains decreases with decreasing film thickness. The morphology of the films imaged by scanning electronic and atomic force microscopy shows that disorder at the polymer surface increases with film thickness.