Structural defects in poly(vinylene disulfide)

We have investigated the structural defects in poly (vinylene disulfide), -(S-CH=CH-S)n-, using optical, magnetic and surface spectroscopic techniques. This has been done by comparing the analysis results obtained on pristine samples with those on protic-acid-doped samples. In the undoped sample, the main type of defect is found on carbon broken bonds which gives rise to carbon-oxygen bonding due to oxidation of the sample. In doped samples, the sulfur sites are greatly affected by doping and appear as the main protonation sites. A careful analysis of all the results has enabled the role of the defects in the electrical conduction mechanism to be clarified.