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 represented by formula (1); a fluorine-based surfactant; metal oxide nanoparticles; and a solvent.

##STR00001##

(R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 are each independently a hydrogen atom, an alkoxy group having 1-40 carbon atoms, O[ZO].sub.pR.sup.e, a sulfonic acid group, or the like, or R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 bond to each other to form OYO. Y is an alkylene group having 1-40 carbon atoms, which may contain an ether bond and which may be substituted with a sulfonic acid group. Z is an alkylene group having 1-40 carbon atoms, which may be substituted with a halogen atom. p is 1 or more, and R.sup.e is a hydrogen atom, an alkyl group having a 1-40 carbon atoms, or the like.)

Composite materials are made by impregnating a non-conductive material with a conducting monomer to form a monomer-impregnated non-conductive material, and polymerizing the monomer-impregnated non-conductive material to form the composite material. The composite materials are used in medical devices and implants.

This invention relates to compositions of conducting polymers and their producing methods and applications in sensing technology. The present conducting polymer comprises an electron deficient and an electron rich building block in an alternated repeating unit which can function as sensors to detect, qualify or quantify analytes in fluid and exhibit chemiresistive property and stable performance in normal room temperature and air pressure. In one embodiment, the present invention provides compositions of conducting polymers and devices comprising the present compositions or conducting polymers for sensor application. In another embodiment, the present invention provides methods of detecting target molecules using compositions, conducting polymers or devices of the present invention. The target molecules include without limitation volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which are indicative of the presence or stage or a disease, or indicative of a health status of a subject.

There is provided a material comprising a n-doped electrically conductive polymer comprising at least one electron-deficient aromatic moiety, each electron-deficient aromatic moiety having a gas-phase electron affinity (E.sub.A) of 1-3 eV; and at least one counter-cation covalently bonded to the polymer or to a further polymer comprised in the material, the polymer being n-doped to a charge density of 0.1-1 electron per electron-deficient aromatic moiety, the polymer being capable of forming a layer having a vacuum workfunction (WF) of 2.5-4.5 eV, and wherein all the counter-cations comprised in the material are immobilised such that any electron in the polymer cannot significantly diffuse or migrate out of the polymer. There is also provided a method of preparing the material.

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 compound of formula (I): (Core)n-(X)m wherein Core is a core group; n is 0 and m is 1, or n is 1 and m is at least 1; and X is a group of formula (II): wherein: R.sup.1, R.sup.3 and R.sup.5 are each independently H or a substituent; R.sup.2 and R.sup.4 are each a substituent; one of R.sup.1-R.sup.5 is a direct bond or divalent linking group linking the group of formula (II) to Core in the case where n is 1; x and y are 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4; and the compound of formula (I) is substituted with at least one ionic substituent. The compound may be used as an n-dopant to dope an organic semiconductor.

##STR00001##

The present invention relates to a non-aqueous ink composition containing (a) a polythiophene containing a repeating unit complying with formula (I); (b) metal oxide nanoparticles containing at least (b-1) a first metal oxide nanoparticle having an average primary particle diameter d.sub.1 and (b-2) a second metal oxide nanoparticle having an average primary particle diameter d.sub.2, wherein d.sub.1<d.sub.2; and (c) a liquid carrier containing one or more organic solvents, as well as a pile-up suppressor and a lifetime extension agent for an organic EL device, containing metal oxide nanoparticles containing at least the (b-1) and (b-2) described above, wherein d.sub.1<d.sub.2.

Disclosed herein are self-healing conductive network compositions. The networks can contain one or more conductive polymers and one or more supramolecular complexes. The supramolecular complex can be introduced into conductive polymer matrix, resulting in a network of the two components. In this network, the nanostructured conductive polymer gel constructs a 3D network to promote the transport of electrons and mechanically reinforce the network while the supramolecular complex contributes to self-healing property and also conductivity. The networks disclosed herein are useful for various applications such as self-healing electronics, artificial skins, soft robotics and biomimetic prostheses.

A method for manufacturing a conductive polymer solid electrolytic capacitor comprising a conductive polymer introduction step and a solvent removal step. The conductive polymer introduction step comprises impregnating a porous material with a dispersion. The dispersion includes a conductive polymer dispersed in a non-aqueous solvent and the conductive polymer includes at least one of the structural units represented by the following formula and the following formula.