Polymerization of cyclohexanone formaldehyde resin modified with carbazole-9-carbonyl chloride

The purpose of this paper is to synthesise cyclohexanone formaldehyde resin (CFR)-modified carbazole-9-carbonyl chloride (CzCl) via hydroxyl groups of CFR. This carbazole-modified resin (Cz-CFR) comonomer was characterised by common techniques such as UV, NMR, FTIR, fluorescence spectrophotometer, and scanning electron microscopy. The oxidative and electrochemical polymerisation of CzCl-modified cyclohexanone formaldehyde resin (Cz-CFR) were carried out. Cz-CFR comonomer was synthesised by the esterification reaction of CzCl and hydroxyl groups of CFR. Then, for the chemical polymerisation, ceric ammonium nitrate (CAN)/DMF solution was added to the comonomer/DMF solution. The precipitate was filtered, washed with chloroform and dried. For the electrochemical polymerisation, potentiodynamic electrodeposition of Cz-CFR comonomer in dichloromethane on to Pt was carried out. The concentration effect of CAN and Cz-CFR on the conductivity, yield, solubility and T_g values of the polymers (P(Cz-CFR)) were investigated. Spectrophotometric (UV-visible, NMR), and cyclovoltammetric, polarisation curves, solid-state conductivity and in situ spectroelectrochemical measurements were performed for the characterisation of homopolymer (polycarbazole (PCz)) and P (Cz-CFR) films comparatively. The ionisation potentials (I_p), electron affinity (E_a), optical band gap (E_g), peak potentials (E_p), doping degree (y), and specific capacitance (C_sp), of polymer films were calculated from the results of polarisation curves, cyclovoltammetry and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy. This paper focuses on obtaining a conductive polymer by using a fluorescence comonomer, which is an insulator. This work provides technical information for the synthesis of fluorescence comonomer and conducting an alternative polymer. The paper describes how a new Cz-CFR comonomer was synthesised. This comonomer has a higher T_g value than CFR alone and also has fluorescence property. Cz-CFR was polymerised by ceric salt and by electrochemical polymerisation. The band gap of the copolymer is not remarkably lower than polycarbazole.