Closed shell cationic conducting polymers

ORGN 352

Ryan C Chiechi, Gursel Sonmez, and Fred Wudl. Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, Exotic Materials Institute, University of California, Los Angeles, 607 Charles E. Young Drive East, Box 951569, Los Angeles, CA 90095
Although Brønsted-Lowry acid-dopable conducting polymers exist, the tendency is to undergo spin unpairing to form radical cations (e.g. polyaniline) rather than the predicted closed shell cationic system. If strong electron donating moieties are placed along a pseudo-polythiophene backbone, closed shell cations may be stabilized more than their radical equivalents, thus disfavoring spontaneous spin unparing. Using a simple ether precursor the polymer could be generated from a neutral pre-polymer upon treatment with a simple acid such as HCl. Much like the emeraldine base form of polyaniline, conductivity could be altered with acid/base treatment. The lack of radicals, however, should imbue the system with more thermal and REDOX stability and perhaps even higher conductivity.