Conjugated polymers physics

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. 

Despite the scientific progress and the demonstration of novel device concepts, there was considerable skepticism that semiconducting polymers would ever reach the levels of purity required for long-lifetime commercial devices. In the context of the last 50 years of semiconductor physics, conjugated polymers were often... 

In low-dimensional systems, such as quantum-confined. semiconductors and conjugated polymers, the first step of optical absorption is the creation of bound electron-hole pairs, known as excitons [34). Charge photogcncration (CPG) occurs when excitons break into positive and negative carriers. This process is of essential importance both for the understanding of the fundamental physics of these materials and for applications in photovoltaic devices and photodctcctors. Since exciton dissociation can be affected by an external electric field, field-induced spectroscopy is a powerful tool for studying CPG. 

There have been numerous studies of the electrical and emission properties of conjugated polymer-, small molecule-, and molecularly doped polymer-based OLEDs. The current-voltage and radiance-voltage characteristics have been nica sured as a function of thickness of the organic layer, temperature, different metal electrodes, etc. in an attempt to understand the device physics. A major factor in hibiting progress is the purity of the organic impurities that are incorporated dur-... 

At this point it might be appropriate to comment on the conflicting requirements of the synthesis. The large interest which other conjugated polymers such as polypyrrole, polyanilinc or poly(parattracted originates, firstly, from their attractive physical properties, but also from the sim-... 

In general. Figure 9-2 b to c show strategies to make conjugated polymers more proeessible but it must be noted that the different synthetic approaches do not only result in different degrees of (a) chemical purity but also alter (b) the physical properties due lo intrinsic differences. Compared to a pure conjugated... 

Conjugated polymer electroluminescence R.H. Friend and N.C. Greenham Physical Properties of Polymers Handbook, J.E. Mark, Ed., AIP Press, New York, pp. 479-487... 

NC Greenham and RH Friend, Semiconductor device physics of conjugated polymers, Solid State Phys., 49 2-149, 1995. 

The dominant attribute that has driven interest in fluorescent conjugated polymers (CPs) sensory materials is their ability to produce signal gain in response to interactions with analytes. The increased sensitivity (amplification) is derived from the ability of a conjugated polymer to serve as a highly efficient transport medium of electronic excitation. Analyte specificity in CP-based sensors results from the covalent or physical integration of receptors, imprinting, and/or the CP s overall electrostatic and chemical characteristics. The observed amplification is a... 

Abstract Conjugated polymers have many unique photophysical properties that make them useful for a variety of applications within the fields of chemistry, molecular biology, and medicine, specifically their ability to produce a conformation-dependant spectral signature reflective of changes in their local environment. This physical property makes conjugated polymers an indispensible tool in the toolbox of fluorescent reporters, and within this chapter, their utilization as molecular probes for studying protein structure and conformation is emphasized. 

Dang, T. D., Bai, S. J., Heberer, D. R, Arnold, F. E. and Spry, R. J. 1993. Ionic conductivity of conjugated water-soluble rigid-rod polymers. Journal of Polymer Science Part B Polymer Physics 31 1941-1950. 

Polymeric micelles are mostly small (10-100 nm) in size and dmgs can be incorporated by chemical conjugation or physical entrapment. For efficient delivery activity, they shonld maintain their integrity for a sufficient amount of time after injection into the body. Most of the experience with polymeric micelles has been obtained in the field of passive targeting of anticancer drugs to tumours [33]. Attachment of antibodies or sugars, or introduction of a polymer sensitive to variation in temperature or pH has also been stndied [32]. 

In 1958, Natta and co-workers polymerized acetylene for the first time by using a Ti-based catalyst. This polymerization proceeds by the insertion mechanism like the polymerization of olefins. Because of the lack of processability and stability, early studies on polyacetylenes were motivated by only theoretical and spectroscopic interests. Thereafter, the discovery of the metallic conductivity of doped polyacetylene in 1977 stimulated research into the chemistry of polyacetylene, and now poly acetylene is recognized as one of the most important conjugated polymers. Many publications are now available about the chemistry and physics of polyacetylene itself. 

TABLE 2. Physical Properties of Selected n-Conjugated Polymers"... 

H. Bassler and L. J. Rothberg (eds.), Chemical Physics on Excited State Phenomena in Conjugated Polymers, Chem. Phys. 227 (1998)... 

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