Charge transport and thermal properties of polyindole, polycarbazole and their derivatives

The time and temperature dependences of conductivity of four polymers namely polyindole, polyindole-5-carboxylic acid, polycarbazole, and poly(N-vinylcarbazole) are analysed to understand the aging process and conduction mechanism. The polymers are prepared electrochemically. The conductivity data obtained over a temperature range are fitted to Arrhenius and Mott equations. The thermal degradation of both doped and dedoped samples of the four polymers in air and N2 atmosphere has been followed using thermogravimetric (TG) and differential thermal analysis (DTA). The thermal activation energies are evaluated by Horowitz and Metzger method. © 2004 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.