Method of preparing conjugated polymer

Abstract

The invention provides a method of preparing a conjugated polymer in which at least one monomer and a supporting electrolyte are incorporated into a thermotropic liquid crystal composition; and the at least one monomer in the thermotropic liquid crystal composition is electropolymerized, the thermotropic liquid crystal composition having a solid-liquid crystal phase transition temperature of 25° C. or lower, an isotropic phase transition temperature of 55° C. or higher, and a clogP value of 6 or less.

1 . A method of preparing a conjugated polymer, the method comprising:
 incorporating at least one monomer and a supporting electrolyte into a thermotropic liquid crystal composition; and   electropolymerizing the at least one monomer in the thermotropic liquid crystal composition, the thermotropic liquid crystal composition having a solid-liquid crystal phase transition temperature of 25° C. or lower, an isotropic phase transition temperature of 55° C. or higher, and a clogP value of 6 or less.   
     
     
         2 . The method of preparing a conjugated polymer according to  claim 1 , wherein a content of non-liquid crystal liquid liquid other than the monomer in the thermotropic liquid crystal composition is 5% by mass or less. 
     
     
         3 . The method of preparing a conjugated polymer according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermotropic liquid crystal composition comprises at least one compound having an isotropic phase transition temperature of 100° C. or higher. 
     
     
         4 . The method of preparing a conjugated polymer according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermotropic liquid crystal composition comprises at least one compound having an isotropic phase transition temperature of 100° C. or higher, and at least one compound having a solid-liquid crystal phase transition temperature of 40° C. or lower. 
     
     
         5 . The method of preparing a conjugated polymer according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermotropic liquid crystal composition comprises at least one dioxane compound. 
     
     
         6 . The method of preparing a conjugated polymer according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one monomer comprises a heterocyclic compound.  
     
     
         7 . The method of preparing a conjugated polymer according to  claim 1 , wherein the electropolymerizing comprises:
 applying a first voltage that would provide a polymerization reaction rate in a range of from 5% to 30% in a case in which the first voltage was applied for five minutes; and   after applying the first voltage, applying a second voltage that would provide a polymerization reaction rate of 50% or more in a case in which the second voltage was applied for five minutes.   
     
     
         8 . The method of preparing a conjugated polymer according to  claim 7 , wherein the first voltage is 3V or less. 
     
     
         9 . The method of preparing a conjugated polymer according to  claim 1 , wherein the electropolymerizing is performed at a temperature of 50° C. or lower. 
     
     
         10 . The method of preparing a conjugated polymer according to  claim 1 , wherein the thermotropic liquid crystal composition that comprises the at least one monomer and the supporting electrolyte is disposed between a pair of electrode substrates facing each other. 
     
     
         11 . The method of preparing a conjugated polymer according to  claim 10 , wherein the electrode substrates have been treated with a silane coupling agent. 
     
     
         12 . The method of preparing a conjugated polymer according to  claim 10 , wherein the electrode substrates have been treated by rubbing. 
     
     
         13 . The method of preparing a conjugated polymer according to  claim 10 , wherein the thermotropic liquid crystal composition orientates horizontally with respect to the electrode substrates when voltage is applied to the electrode substrates. 
     
     
         14 . The method of preparing a conjugated polymer according to  claim 10 , wherein the thennotropic liquid crystal composition orientates vertically with respect to the electrode substrates when voltage is applied to the electrode substrates. 
     
     
         15 . The method of preparing a conjugated polymer according to  claim 10 , wherein the thermotropic liquid crystal composition orientates uniaxially when voltage is applied to the electrode substrates.