Publication Date

2009

Document Type

Thesis

Committee Members

Daniel Bombick (Committee Member), David Dolson (Committee Member), Suzanne Lunsford (Advisor), Joseph F. Thomas, Jr. (Other), Kenneth Turnbull (Other)

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Abstract

The synthesis of poly(2,2'bithiophene) was carried out utilizing the Epsilon 2000 cyclic voltammeter. In order to incorporate the mercuric ion into the polymer matrix, the polymer was grown on an Iridium Oxide conductive glass, immersed into a solution of 0.005M HgSO4 for 15 minutes. The mercuric ion became covalently bonded to the sulfur from the polymer. The comparison of the bare platinum electrode in a solution of 0.005M pyrocatechol to the modified poly(2,2'-bithiophene) polymer was ran at a scan rate of 100mVs-1. This gave a direct comparison of oxidation/reduction peak potentials. As seen, the modified poly(2,2'-bithiophene) polymer with the mercuric ion did not give a response when compared to that of both the modified and bare platinum electrodes in 0.005 M pyrocatechol. Both Scanning Electron Microscopy and micro-Raman Spectrometry were employed in order to determine the morphology of the polymer as well as the binding ability to the metal mercury ion. The intensity ratio decreased monotonically as the number of conjugated thiophene rings increased, according to the micro-Raman spectra (i.e., 7.82, 2.91, 1.59, and 1.44 for a-bithiophene, a-terthiophene, a-quaterthiophene, and a-sexithiophene, respectively) and served as an approximate measure of conjugation-length. It is suggested that an a-terthiophene ring is incorporating the mercuric ion into the polymer matrix. From the stabilization of the polymer and the ability of the polymer to complex with the mercuric ion from solution, applications to the environment should be employed in future studies.

Page Count

62

Department or Program

Department of Chemistry

Year Degree Awarded

2009

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