SEARCH FOR CONDUCTING DOPED POLYMERS WITH GREAT CHEMICAL-STABILITY - REGIOSPECIFIC POLY(3,3''-DIHEXYL-2,2'5'3''-TERTHIOPHE)

Previous calculations have suggested that the formation and the stabil ity of charge transfer bonds in doped polyconjugated systems may be ma ximized by a favored topology of the dopant molecule. The preferred si te of attack is found where the steric hindrance is minimized. Followi ng these principles, regiospecific poly(3,3 ''-dihexyl-2,2':5',2 ''-te rthiophene) was synthesized and doped with FeCl3. The time and tempera ture dependence of the dedoping process has been studied by the analys is of the doping induced infrared spectrum. This material in the doped state shows an extremely great stability (in air. even at relatively high temperatures) never previously reported for any other doped syste m.