Synthesis, Processing and Applications of Conjugated Oligomers and Polymers

Dear Colleagues,

Conjugated organic oligomers and polymers have demonstrated, in past decades, amazing properties, such as conductivity, which were traditionally considered counterintuitive for macromolecules consistently used as plastics and fibers (thus insulators) until the late 1970s. Their semiconducting properties have boosted enormous interest, and indeed, a new generation of materials, often pairing the outstanding performances of inorganic semiconductors, but showing advantages in terms of relative cost, easy methodology of processing, and fields of applications, have been brought forward. They are now widely used in sensing, energy harvesting and conversion, and electronics due to their amazing optical, electronic, chemical, and mechanical properties.

Although conjugated materials are booming and affecting many important fields, they still face some key challenges, mainly focusing on time-consuming synthesis and low yield, limited applications because of instability, or poor solubility. Therefore, the long-term development of conjugated organic materials urgently requires multidisciplinary researchers to work together, as a good match of organic, polymer chemistry, and engineering, in operando spectroscopic techniques is always the base for breakthroughs in the field. Effective and scalable synthesis will be a more and more important driving force for the long-lasting vitality of conjugated materials.

This Special Issue is intended to be an up-to-date and comprehensive issue focused on conjugated materials and aims to pave the way to future practical applications in this wide and dynamic field. We cordially invite you to submit original papers, perspectives, and reviews directed at, but not limited to, the synthesis, processing, and applications of conjugated materials. All aspects of the topics are welcome.

Potential topics include but are not limited to the following:

• New methods of conjugated materials synthesis
• Green synthesis of conjugated materials
• Large scale synthesis of conjugated materials
• Modification and functionalization of conjugated materials
• Conjugated materials for energy conversion and storage
• Biological applications of conjugated materials

Prof. Dr. Dario Pasini
Guest Editor

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