In situ UV-VIS-NIR and Raman spectroelectrochemical studies of the conjugated ladder polymer polybenzimidazobenzophenanthroline (BBL)

In situ UV-VIS-NIR and Raman spectroelectrochemical studies of polybenzimidazobenzophenanthroline (BBL), a conjugated ladder polymer, are reported. BBL films were reduced potentiostatically in spectroelectrochemical cells suitable for in situ UV-VIS-NIR and in situ Raman spectroscopy. The polymer shows four reversible reduction processes during n-doping in contrast to most of the other conjugated polymers. The spectral changes, obtained ill situ during the individual processes, are correlated with in situ ATR-FTIR spectroelectroelectrochemical measurements.