GELS OF POLY(OCTYLTHIOPHENE) - CRYSTALLIZ ATION

The study of conjugated poly(octylthiophene) gels by x-ray diffraction and differential calorimetry shows that these networks are semi-cryst alline. State of crystallinity, transport properties and large scale h eterogeneity seem to be correlated. The determination of this correlat ion requires a detailed study of the mechanisms of crystallization of these polymer gels, the first results of which are reported here. They show that crystallinity ratios and crystallization rates can be deter mined by NMR and, as expected, strongly depend on the gels thermodynam ic history.