Conjugated Polymers: Preparation, Properties and Applications

Dear Colleagues,

Polymers compete with metals as constituents of several materials, being cheapest in preparation and exhibiting more ductility. Synthesis of conjugated polymers allowed preparing semiconducting materials for replacing metals in electronic and optical applications. Conjugated polymers exhibit alternating double bonds and single bonds and several p-orbitals overlapping, with consequent high electron mobility. Light absorption and emission in the range of UV-Visible-Near IR frequencies rendered the compounds objects of several studies concerning potential applications in Photovoltaic, Light Emission Diodes, Bio-Imaging, Hydrogen Photo-production. Conjugated polymers and analysis of their electro-optical properties constitute an active research field due to the needing for materials whose performances are comparable to the metal semiconductors and can replace them. The development of conjugated polymers can also allow applications of semiconductors in new fields, such as electro-optical biomaterials as well as in the treatment of neurodegenerative, inflammation and infectious disease. In this Topic, we intend to collect research work concerning the preparation of conjugated polymers and analysis of their properties.

Dr. Carmine Coluccini
Dr. Paolo Coghi
Topic Editors