In this study, we proposed to synthesize thermally stable, soluble and conjugated Schiff base polymer (SbP). For this reason, a specific molecule namely 4,4'-thiodiphenol which has sulfur and oxygen bridge in its structure was used to synthesize bi-functional monomers. Bi-functional amino and carbonyl monomers namely 4,4'-[thio-bis(4,1-phenyleneoxy)] dianiline (DIA) and 4,4'-[thiobis(4,1-phenyleneoxy)]dibenzaldehyde (DIB) were prepared from the elimination reaction of 4,4'-thiodiphenol with 4-iodonitrobenzene and 4-iodobenzaldehyde, respectively. The structures of products were confirmed by elemental analysis, FTIR, 1H NMR and 13C NMR techniques. The molecular weight distribution parameters of SbP were determined by size exclusion chromatography (SEC). The synthesized SbP was characterized by solubility tests, TG-DTA and DSC. Also, conductivity values of SbP and SbP-iodine complex were determined from their solid conductivity measurements. The conductivity measurements of doped and undoped SbP were carried out by Keithley 2400 electrometer at room temperature and atmospheric pressure, which were calculated via fourpoint probe technique. When iodine was used as a doping agent, the conductivity of SbP was observed to be increased. Optical band gap (Eg) of SbP was also calculated by using UV-Vis spectroscopy. It should be stressed that SbP was a semiconductor which had a potential in electronic and optoelectronic applications, with fairly low band gap. SbP was found to be thermally stable up to 300 oC. The char of SbP was observed 29.86% at 1000 oC.

Keywords: conjugated schiff base polymer; polyazomethine; polyimine; thermal analysis; conductivity.