Electrochemical synthesis and characterization of redox polymer nanostructures

Template-based electrochemical methods for the synthesis of nanostructures on the basis of new redox polymers poly[M(Schiff)] (M = Ni, Pd; Schiff = tetradentate Schiff bases) with nanowire diameters in the range of 20-200 nm were developed. Polymeric nanostructures were characterized by means of electron microscopy, cyclic voltammetry, and dc-conductometry. Elaboration of data from all techniques revealed that nanostructures based on redox polymers have conductivities that are more than an order of magnitude greater than those of bulk samples of the same polymers when these polymers function in the electrochemical system (redox conductivity) and in the dry state (polaron conductivity).