Described are conjugated polymers and conjugated polymer nanoparticles formed therefrom. The conjugated polymers and conjugated polymer nanoparticles have a maximum emission of light that occurs within a tissue transparent window of the electromagnetic spectrum. These emission properties are particle-size independent. The sizes of the conjugated nanoparticles are controlled by altering the concentration of the conjugated polymer used to make conjugated polymer nanoparticles. Also described are methods of making conjugated polymer nanoparticles that have larger sizes than have been traditionally reported, involving a modified reprecipitation approach. The conjugated polymers and/or conjugated polymer nanoparticles can be used as fluorescent probes in biological imaging.

This disclosure relates generally to electrochromic polymers that include a plurality of -conjugated chromophores in spaced relation with one another, and a plurality of conjugation-break spacers (CBSs), where at least one CBS separates adjacent chromophores. The chromophores may be colored in the neutral state, and multicolored to transmissive in different oxidization states.

The disclosure relates generally to black-to-transmissive electrochromic polymers having superior properties such as absorbance of across the entire visible spectrum and an obvious color change from black to transmissive with an applied voltage. The disclosure also relates to methods for synthesizing or using the same. Further, the disclosure also relates to black-to-transmissive electrochromic polymer thin films comprising the black-to-transmissive electrochromic polymers, as well as electrochromic devices comprising the black-to-transmissive electrochromic polymers or thin films.

An electrochromic device according to the inventive concept includes a first electrode; a second electrode on the first electrode; and an electrochromic electrolyte layer and a nanostructure between the first and second electrodes. The nanostructure has a porous structure, and the electrochromic electrolyte layer includes phenothiazine or a compound represented by the following Formula 1:

##STR00001## where R.sub.1 is hydrogen, C1-C6 alkyl or phenyl.

Provided herein are black-to-transmissive electrochromic polymers having superior properties such as absorbance of across the entire visible spectrum and an obvious color change from black to transmissive with an applied voltage. Provided also include methods for synthesizing or using the same. The black-to-transmissive electrochromic polymer thin films may comprise the black-to-transmissive electrochromic polymers, as well as electrochromic devices comprising the black-to-transmissive electrochromic polymers or thin films.

Electrochromic polymers that include a plurality of -conjugated chromophores in spaced relation with one another, and a plurality of conjugation-break spacers (CBSs), where at least one CBS separates adjacent chromophores, are provided. The chromophores may be colored in the neutral state, and multicolored to transmissive in different oxidation states.

An organic semiconductor element in which an organic semiconductor layer contains a compound of Formula (1) and/or a compound of Formula (2) or contains a polymer having a structure of any one of Formulae (9) and (10):

##STR00001## in which X.sup.1 represents a nitrogen atom or CR.sup.a, rings A to D each represent a specific aromatic ring or an aromatic heterocyclic ring; Y.sup.1 represents an oxygen atom, a sulfur atom, CR.sup.b.sub.2, or NR.sup.c; R.sup.a to R.sup.c each represent hydrogen atoms or substituents; R.sup.1 and R.sup.2 each represent a to specific substituent; n represents 1 or 2; and * represents a bonding site.

The present invention relates to nanoparticle compositions and, in particular, to composite polymeric nanoparticle compositions. A composite nanoparticle described herein comprises a photoluminescent polymeric component and a photo-thermal polymeric component. The photoluminescent polymeric component and the photo-thermal polymeric component can each comprise a single polymeric species or multiple polymeric species.

The present disclosure provides for the development and applications of monomeric, oligomeric and/or polymeric semiconductor materials comprising a five-membered heteroaromatic unit (e.g., thiophene; furan; selenophene; etc.) that includes an acrylyl or an acrylyl-like (CCCO) side chain. The semiconductor materials can be used as organic semiconductors for use in electronic, optical, or optoelectronic devices such as organic thin film transistors and organic photovoltaics. The disclosed semiconductor materials (e.g., semiconducting polymer compounds) can be used as high performance semiconductors (e.g., for organic solar cells or organic photovoltaics (OPVs)), and the disclosed semiconductor materials can be used for other devices (e.g., organic thin film transistors (OTFTs) and sensors, etc.).

Compositions of, methods of making, and methods of using hybrid nanoparticles comprise at least one semiconducting polymer and at least one nonsemiconducting polymer. Compositions of, methods of making and methods of using hybrid nanoparticles comprise at least one semiconducting polymer and non-semiconducting polymers wherein the non-semiconducting polymer comprises more than one non-semiconducting polymer such that at least one non-semiconducting polymer is functionalized for bioconjugation. The hybrid nanoparticles are polarization-sensitive and have low mass ratios with large fluorescence.