Chapter 2

Conducting Polymers: An Introduction

Nidhin Joy

Nidhin Joy

Mahatma Gandhi University, School of Chemical Sciences, Priyadarshini Hills, Kottayam, 686560 Kerala, India

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Joby Eldho

Joby Eldho

Senior Scientist, R&D Deposition Materials, EMD Performance Materials, 1429 Hilldale Avenue, Haverhill, MA, 01832 USA

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Raju Francis

Raju Francis

Senior Scientist, R&D Deposition Materials, EMD Performance Materials, 1429 Hilldale Avenue, Haverhill, MA, 01832 USA

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First published: 29 September 2016
Citations: 1

Summary

Polymers have been extensively used both as biomaterials, which are constituents of medical devices, and as constituents of drug delivery systems. Polyacetylene, in view of possessing the simplest molecular framework, has attracted the most attention, especially of physicists, with an emphasis on understanding the mechanism of conduction. Conducting polymers (CPs) are an exciting new class of electronic materials, which have attracted increasing interest since their discovery in 1977. CPs are mainly of three types: Electron-conducting polymers, proton-conducting polymers and ion-conducting polymers. CPs can be synthesized by different methods of chemical synthesis including step growth polymerization or chain growth polymerization. Electrochemical polymerization allows the synthesis of the polymer only if its monomer can undergo oxidation in the presence of an electrical potential. Dopant concentration is the main factor that affects the electrochemical properties of the CP, that is, electrical conductivities can be varied by 15 magnitudes by changing dopant concentrations.

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