ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTING POLYMERS - FROM FUNDAMENTAL TO APPLIED-RESEARCH

A review of the state of the art of electrically conducting polymers i s presented. Special emphasis is laid on the nature of the doping proc esses which induce high electrical conductivity in conjugated organic polymers and on the nature of charge carriers such as solitons, polaro ns and bipolarons produced in them as a result of such processes. Vari ous factors affecting the electrical conductivity of these polymers an d the various models proposed to explain charge transport in them are also discussed. The present status of the structure-property relations hip in these conducting polymers and the various routes currently purs ued to tailor novel conducting polymers are also briefly mentioned. Fi nally the various applications of these novel electronic materials are described.