Solvent-free synthesis of a porous thiophene polymer by mechanochemical oxidative polymerization

Abstract

This study elucidates a mechanochemical approach to synthesize a microporous thiophene polymer via oxidative polymerization. Utilizing a design of experiments approach we optimized the reaction conditions leading to complete conversion and a polymer with a surface area of up to 1850 m² g⁻¹ – almost twice as high as the material prepared by solution-based polymerization. Thus, our approach presents a solvent free, quick and scalable alternative for the production of porous polymers.