Electrochemical synthesis of free-standing polyacetylene film with copper catalyst

Acetylene was potentiostatically electropolymerized in the presence of a Cu-TMEDA catalyst in DMF containing LiClO4 under an argon atmosphere, affording a black filmy product deposited on a Pt cathode. The product was liberated as a free-standing film by a treatment of methanol. The film was found to consist of amorphous trans-rich polyacetylene chains whose degree of polymerization was more than 50 with contaminants such as metals and the electrolyte. SEM analysis of the film surface showed a cauliflower-like morphology without fibliler structures. Electrical conductivity of the film was about 10 S cm−1 upon I2 doping