Conductive Organic Polymers, influences of chemistry, formulation and structuring

Polymers have become an important part of our daily lives. They can be found in a wide variety of forms, from polyethylene (PE) plastic packaging to polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes, from synthetic textiles (such as elastane for sportswear or Kevlar for bullet-proof vests) to composite materials. The backbone of common polymers is mainly made up of single bonds, so they are known to be very good electrical insulators (10 ^–13 and 10 ^–16 S · m ^–1 ) and are notably used for this property in various applications (cable insulation, electrical panels and cabinets...). Alongside these common polymers, there is a lesser-known but equally important category of polymers: conjugated polymers. Conjugated polymers form a special class of polymeric materials. They are distinguished from the first polymers by the presence of a backbone rich in double bonds and aromatic nuclei. This feature induces electron delocalization to a greater or lesser extent, depending on the nature of the polymer. The properties of these polymers can then be combined with electrical conduction, which is useful in various fields such as antistatic protection of circuits, corrosion protection, metallization of plastics, the production of new sensors, or the manufacture of heating elements. What's more, these polymers offer a synergy of optical and electronic properties, mainly due to their nature as either semiconductors or conductors. Conjugated polymers are extremely interesting materials for a wide range of applications, such as optoelectronics, electro-controllable devices or (bio-)chemical sensors based on the conductive modulation properties of polymer chains. Thanks to their ease of processing and affordability, they are an ideal replacement for inorganic semiconductors. Today, conductive polymers can be used to produce field-effect transistors, light-emitting diodes (OLEDs), solar cells and ultra-sensitive pollutant sensors, all under more economical and environmentally-friendly conditions.