The present disclosure relates to functionally graded thermoelectric materials including an organic conducting polymer. In particular, the material includes a molecular dopant that can be spatially distributed in a controlled pattern within the material. Methods of making such materials and devices including such materials are also described herein.

The present invention relates to (i) a method of producing a conductive polymer, comprising polymerizing at least one of compounds (A1) represented by the formula (1) disclosed in the specification in the presence of a compound (B) having sulfo group; (ii) a method of producing a conductive polymer, comprising polymerizing at least one compound selected from a group consisting of at least one compound (A2) represented by the formula (2); and (iii) a method of producing a conductive polymer, comprising copolymerizing at least one compound (A1) and at least one compound selected from a group consisting of at least one compound (A2). The method of the present invention is a method for producing a one-liquid type conductive polymer in which it is possible to easily adjust the solvent affinity, the solubility, and other such aspects of performance according to the purpose.

A charge-transfer salt formed from a material comprising a repeat unit of formula (I) and an n-dopant: wherein BG is a backbone group of the repeat unit; R.sup.1 is a ionic substituent comprising at least one cationic or anionic group; n is at least 1; R.sup.2 is a non-ionic substituent; and m is 0 or a positive integer; the material further comprising a counterion balancing the charge of the cationic or anionic group.

##STR00001##

A film having a metallic luster that is easier to manufacture and exhibits little degradation over time, an article having the film formed thereon, and a manufacturing method for the film having a metallic luster. The film, which has a metallic luster, is characterized by containing a thiophene polymer. The manufacturing method for the film which has a metallic luster is characterized by a thiophene being polymerized using an oxidizing agent and made into a solution containing the thiophene polymer, and then coating and drying the solution containing the thiophene polymer on an article. The article having the film, which has a metallic luster formed thereon, is characterized by containing a thiophene polymer.

A method for producing a PEDOT film on a substrate comprising a substrate and at least one PEDOT layer on a surface of the substrate is disclosed. The method comprises applying a solution comprising an oxidant and a base inhibitor on a surface of the substrate; subjecting the oxidant-coated substrate to a polymerization step by exposing the surface (s) of the oxidant-coated substrate to EDOT monomer vapour at a polymerization temperature; and wherein, during the polymerization step, the temperature of the oxidant-coated substrate is kept at a controlled substrate temperature and wherein the controlled substrate temperature is 2-40° C. lower than the polymerization temperature. Further is disclosed a conducting PEDOT film, an electronic device comprising the conducting PEDOT film and different uses of the conducting PEDOT film. Further, is disclosed a method for producing a polymer film formed of a copolymer, a conducting polymer film, an electronic device comprising the conducting polymer film and different uses of the conducting polymer film.

A method for producing a PEDOT film on a substrate comprising a substrate and at least one PEDOT layer on a surface of the substrate is disclosed. The method comprises applying a solution comprising an oxidant and a base inhibitor on a surface of the substrate; subjecting the oxidant-coated substrate to a polymerization step by exposing the surface(s) of the oxidant-coated substrate to EDOT monomer vapour at a polymerization temperature; and wherein, during the polymerization step, the temperature of the oxidant-coated substrate is kept at a controlled substrate temperature and wherein the controlled substrate temperature is 2-40° C. lower than the polymerization temperature. Further is disclosed a conducting PEDOT film, an electronic device comprising the conducting PEDOT film and different uses of the conducting PEDOT film.

A composition comprising: (a) a conductive polymer, (b) a resin having a solubility parameter of 9.0 to 12.0 (cal/cm.sup.3).sup.1/2, (c) a solvent, and (d) a phenolic compound.

Polymerize ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) in a polymerization process using dinonylnaphthalenesulfonic acid (DNNSA) as the dopant and Fe(III) p-toluenesulfonate (Fe (III) p-TSA) as the oxidizing agent to produce an organically soluble polyethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT).

Provided is a charge-transporting composition that contains: a charge-transporting substance comprising a polythiophene derivative of formula (1) or an amine adduct thereof; an organosilane compound selected from fluoroalkyl-group-containing silanes, etc.; metal oxide nanoparticles; and an organic solvent.

##STR00001##

(R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are, mutually independently, a hydrogen atom, a C1-40 alkoxy group, —O—[Z—O].sub.p—R.sup.e, a sulfonic acid group, etc., or are —O—Y—O— formed by the bonding of R.sup.1 and R.sup.2; Y is a C1-40 alkylene group that may contain an ether bond, or may be substituted with a sulfonic acid group; Z is a C1-40 alkylene group that may be substituted with a halogen atom; p is an integer of 1 or greater; and R.sup.e is a hydrogen atom, a C1-40 alkyl group, etc.)).

A thermally stable and solvent resistant conductive polymer composite and its manufacturing friendly preparation method are disclosed. The disclosed composite presents great electrical conductivity with thermal stability and solvent resistance. A method of mixing a host conjugated polymer and a crosslinkable silane precursor simultaneously introduces both dopant and rigid cross-linked siloxane network into polymer system. The thin film made by the disclosed thermally stable and solvent resistant conductive polymer composite can be applied to fabricate various devices.