RECENT STRUCTURAL INVESTIGATIONS OF METALLIC POLYMERS

Recent structural studies of the undoped and iodine-doped polyacetylen es (prepared by the Tsukamoto and co-workers method), PF6--doped polyp yrrole and polyaniline emeraldine base and (hydrochloric acid and camp horsulfonic acid) salts are presented. Some key features of the polyme r chain array and its evolution with the conditions of preparation are emphasized. Special attention has been devoted to characterization of the various sources of structural disorder in the relationship with h igh conductivity and related properties exhibited by these three famil ies of polymers. Variation in the structural order in both crystalline and amorphous regions correlates directly with the electrical and opt ical properties of the metallic state.