Conducting organic polymers

These questions are not just of academic interest as aryl azides have important application as photoresists in lithography, in the formation of electrically conducting polymers, organic synthesis, photoaffinity labeling, and in the covalent modification of polymer surfaces. 

Low cost alternatives to inorganic p-type semiconductors can be found in organic species and conductive polymers. Organic hole conductors like the spiro-compound 2,2, 7,7 -tetrakis(/V,/V-di-/)-methoxyphenyl-amine)-9,9,-spirobifluorene (OMeTAD) (Fig. 17.41) have demonstrated some promise for application in dye-sensitized... 

From the beginning of their history in the late 1970s, conductive polymers (organic metals) have been considered as intractable and insoluble. It was an important goal in basic research as in application-oriented materials science to develop techniques by which they could be processed. The use of solvents was one of the options. As early as 1983-84, after five years of research, we happened to create the first clear dispersions of polyacetylene, polypyrrole, and polyaniline [42], with and without the presence of conventional polymeric binders. This was the beginning of nanotechnology with organic metals. 

Wessling, B. Dispersion-the key tool for understanding and using conductive polymers Organic nanometals, Lecture at ISCM 2004, Pittsburgh, USA, forthcoming. 

Novel scientific ideas in organic synthesis require unique mechanisms to transfer them into industrially important irmovations. A detailed review on the past scientific advances reported under catalytic organic chemistry from the world-renowned academic research groups had indicated that highly successful industrial applications occurred whenever the opportunities presented by the industry formed the main themes of study. It is equally interesting to note that when Nobel Prize for chemistry was awarded in 2000 for the electrically conducting polymers, organic electronics found its place on the innovation radars of several companies in the concerned area (s). 

Although polyacetylene has served as an excellent prototype for understanding the chemistry and physics of electrical conductivity in organic polymers, its instabiUty in both the neutral and doped forms precludes any useful appHcation. In contrast to poly acetylene, both polyaniline and polypyrrole are significantly more stable as electrical conductors. When addressing polymer stabiUty it is necessary to know the environmental conditions to which it will be exposed these conditions can vary quite widely. For example, many of the electrode appHcations require long-term chemical and electrochemical stabihty at room temperature while the polymer is immersed in electrolyte. Aerospace appHcations, on the other hand, can have quite severe stabiHty restrictions with testing carried out at elevated temperatures and humidities. 

The science and technology of conducting polymers are inherently interdisciplinary they fall at the intersection of three established disciplines chemistry, physics and engineering hence the name for this volume. These macromolccular materials are synthesized by the methods of organic chemistry. Their electronic structure and electronic properties fall within the domain of condensed matter physics. Efficient processing of conjugated polymer materials into useful forms and the fabrication of electronic and opto-electronic devices require input from engineering i. e. materials science (more specifically, polymer science) and device physics. 

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