Optimization of Polymerization Conditions of Furan with Aniline for Variable Conducting Polymers

A high-throughput multiparameter optimization of chemical oxidative polymerization conditions has been developed for a facile synthesis of furan homopolymers and furan/aniline copolymers using a combinatorial method. The polymerization yield, molecular structure, and properties of the polymers would be optimized against typical polymerization parameters, including oxidant species, medium species, temperature, oxidant/monomer ratio, monomer concentration, dopant concentration, and furan/aniline comonomer ratio. The electrical conductivity, lead ion adsorptivity, chemical resistance, and thermal behavior of the polymers were also elaborated. It is found that only a combination of FeCl3 and nitromethane as oxidant and medium, respectively, is appropriate for the furan homopolymerization. The homopolymerization yield increases consistently with an increase in the monomer concentration from 0.05 to 0.2 M and the FeCl3/furan molar ratio from 0.25 to 1.25. Although the as-prepared polyfuran exhibits very low con...