Effect of composition of polymer backbone on spectroscopic and electrochemical properties of ruthenium(ii) bis(2,2′-bipyridyl)-containing 4-vinylpyridine/styrene copolymers

A series of copolymers of 4-vinylpyridine and styrene and their corresponding ruthenium(II) bis(2,2′-bipyridyl) metallopolymers has been prepared. The polymers have been characterised using IR UV-VIS and emission spectroscopy, differential scanning calorimetry and by microanalysis. The rate of charge transport through films of the metallopolymers on glassy carbon electrodes has been determined using chronoamperometry and cyclic voltammetry. The values obtained by these techniques for the charge-transport diffusion parameter and for the activation parameters are discussed in relation to the effect of styrene content in the copolymer backbone on the rate-determining step for charge transport.