Conducting Polymers: Emerging Commercial Materials

Abstract

Conducting polymers are materials of recent origin. They are obtained by polymerisation of simple organic monomers and doping with electron acceptor or donor species and show conductivity ranging from that of a semiconductor to that of metal. These materials are now available with unique electronic and optical properties of metals and semiconductors in combination with the attractive mechanical and processable advantages of polymers. The field has progressed to a level of maturity consistent with a new set of opportunities to develop Wide range of applications based upon conducting polymers as materials for industrial products.Examples include: static charge dissipation, EMI shielding, flexible light emitting diodes, transparent electrodes, batteries, gas sensors, gas separators, etc. Many of the conducting polymers and devices based on them are now available commercially.