Synthesis, characterization, optical, thermal and electrical properties of polybenzimidazoles

The variation of dielectric constant and dielectric loss of two novel polybenzimidazole (PBI) were studied at constant temperature with variable frequency. The polymers have shown maximum dielectric constant at low applied frequency 50 Hz at 393 K due to the space charge polarization. The AC conductivity and activation energy of polymers were arrived from dielectric constant and dielectric loss values. PBIs were synthesized by the oxidative polycondensation of benzimidazole monomers, 2-(1H-benzo [d] imidazole-2-yl)-4-bromophenol (BIBP), and 2-(1H-benzo [d] imidazole-2-yl)-6-methoxyphenol (BIMP) in an aqueous alkaline medium using NaOCl as oxidant. The monomers and polymers were characterized by various spectroscopic techniques. Fluorescence spectra of monomers and polymers showed their λ max emission in the region of 472–479 and 463–472 nm respectively. The electrical conductivities of iodine doped polybenzimidazoles were measured by four-point probe technique and it increases with increase in iodine vapour contact time. The electrical conductivity values were correlated with the charge density on imidazole nitrogen obtained from Huckel calculation method. Both the PBI are having reasonably good thermal stability and are shown by high carbines residues of around 40% at 500°C in thermogravimetric analysis.