An organic semiconducting donor-acceptor (D-A) small molecule, as well as a semiconductor device that can incorporate the D-A small molecule, are disclosed. The D-A small molecule can have electron deficient substituents and R group substituents that can be C.sub.1-C.sub.20 linear alkyl chains, C.sub.2-C.sub.24 branched alkyl chains, hydrogen atoms, etc. The D-A small molecule can be can be synthesized in a reaction between a dithienofuran (DTF) core monomer and an electron deficient monomer. Additionally, the D-A small molecule can be part of an organic semiconducting copolymer. A semiconductor device that can incorporate the D-A small molecule in a photoactive layer is also disclosed herein. Additionally, 3,4-dibrominated furan compound that can, in some embodiments, be a precursor for the D-A small molecule is disclosed. The 3,4-dibrominated furan compound can be synthesized in a reaction involving a furan-2,5-dicarboxylic dimethyl ester (FDME), which can have a bio-renewable precursor.

Co-polymers formed from at least one monomer of formula (A) and at least one monomer of formula (B): (A) (B) wherein R.sup.1, R.sup.2, R.sup.3 and L are as defined herein; may be dispersed or dissolved in an organic solvent which optionally contains carbon nanostructures. A substrate coated or printed with the dispersion or solution may be used in an electrochromic device.

This disclosure presents electrochromic devices that incorporate an n-doped organic conductive polymer, which can function as a transparent conductor, and/or ion storage material, and/or an electrochromic material in the electrochromic devices.

An organic semiconducting donor-acceptor (D-A) small molecule, as well as a semiconductor device that can incorporate the D-A small molecule, are disclosed. The D-A small molecule can have electron deficient substituents and R group substituents that can be C.sub.1-C.sub.20 linear alkyl chains, C.sub.2-C.sub.24 branched alkyl chains, hydrogen atoms, etc. The D-A small molecule can be can be synthesized in a reaction between a dithienofuran (DTF) core monomer and an electron deficient monomer. Additionally, the D-A small molecule can be part of an organic semiconducting copolymer. A semiconductor device that can incorporate the D-A small molecule in a photoactive layer is also disclosed herein. Additionally, 3,4-dibrominated furan compound that can, in some embodiments, be a precursor for the D-A small molecule is disclosed. The 3,4-dibrominated furan compound can be synthesized in a reaction involving a furan-2,5-dicarboxylic dimethyl ester (FDME), which can have a bio-renewable precursor.

A solid electrolytic capacitor is obtained by a method which includes dissolving a polymerizable material for being converted into a conductive polymer in a water-soluble organic solvent to obtain a solution, adding the solution to water while homogenizing the solution to obtain a sol, immersing an anode body having a dielectric layer in the surface of the anode body in the sol, and applying voltage using the anode body as a positive electrode and a counter electrode as a negative electrode placed in the sol to electropolymerize the polymerizable material. An electropolymerizable liquid for producing a conductive polymer, the liquid composed of a sol comprising water, a water-soluble organic solvent, and a polymerizable material for being converted into the conductive polymer.

Embodiments of the invention are directed to yellow/orange-to-transmissive conjugated polymers, a method to prepare the yellow/orange conjugated polymers, and an electrochromic and/or electroluminescent device comprising the neutral state yellow/orange conjugated polymers as one of a plurality of primary subtractive colored conjugated polymers. The yellow/orange conjugated polymers show enhanced redox stability and can have a (D.sub.2Ar.sub.z).sub.n structure with a dioxyheterocycle repeating unit or a (DAr.sub.z).sub.n structure with a dioxythiophene monomer that has at least one substituted carbon to an oxygen of the monomer; and where the one to three Ar groups have at least one carbon to the carbon attached to a D unit substituted that has at least 5 atoms in the substituent. The yellow/orange conjugated polymers show enhanced redox stability. The yellow/orange conjugated polymers are prepared by cross-condensation reactions.

A conjugated polymer comprising a repeat unit of formula (I) wherein R.sup.1 in each occurrence is a substituent; R.sup.2 in each occurrence is independently H or a substituent; X is selected from O, S and NR.sup.3; and R.sup.3 in each occurrence is independently H or a substituent. The polymer may be used as a light-emitting marker in a method of sequencing nucleic acids. The polymer may be used as a method of identifying a target analyte in a sample.

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An organic semiconducting donor-acceptor (D-A) small molecule, as well as a semiconductor device that can incorporate the D-A small molecule, are disclosed. The D-A small molecule can have electron deficient substituents and R group substituents that can be C.sub.1-C.sub.20 linear alkyl chains, C.sub.2-C.sub.24 branched alkyl chains, hydrogen atoms, etc. The D-A small molecule can be can be synthesized in a reaction between a dithienofuran (DTF) core monomer and an electron deficient monomer. Additionally, the D-A small molecule can be part of an organic semiconducting copolymer. A semiconductor device that can incorporate the D-A small molecule in a photoactive layer is also disclosed herein. Additionally, 3,4-dibrominated furan compound that can, in some embodiments, be a precursor for the D-A small molecule is disclosed. The 3,4-dibrominated furan compound can be synthesized in a reaction involving a furan-2,5-dicarboxylic dimethyl ester (FDME), which can have a bio-renewable precursor.

A material comprising an electron-accepting unit of formula (I). According to some embodiments, the present disclosure provides a material comprising an electron-accepting unit of formula (I) wherein Ar is a substituted or unsubstituted benzene or 6-membered heteroaromatic ring containing N and C ring atoms; Ar.sup.1 is a substituted or unsubstituted 5- or 6-membered heteroaromatic ring containing N and C ring atoms; Ar.sup.2 is a substituted or unsubstituted 5- or 6-membered heteroaromatic ring or is absent; Ar.sup.3 is a 5-membered ring or a substituted or unsubstituted 6-membered ring; Ar.sup.4 is a 5-membered ring or a substituted or unsubstituted 6-membered ring or is absent; Ar.sup.5 is a substituted or unsubstituted monocyclic or polycyclic group containing at least one aromatic or heteroaromatic ring; Ar.sup.6 is a substituted or unsubstituted monocyclic or polycyclic group containing at least one aromatic or heteroaromatic ring or is absent; and each X is independently a substituent bound to a carbon atom of Ar.sup.3 and, where present, Ar.sup.4 with the proviso that at least one X group is an electron-withdrawing group and wherein the material further comprises a conjugated electron-donating unit. The material may be a polymer comprising repeat units of formula (I). The material may be a non-polymeric compound. An organic photodetector may contain a bulk heterojunction layer containing an electron acceptor or an electron donor wherein at least one of the electron acceptor and electron donor contains a unit of formula (I).

##STR00001##

A method for preparing a hydrogel includes forming a pre-gel comprising polymer and metal salt particles, unidirectionally-shrinking and dehydrating the pre-gel, and impregnating the unidirectionally shrunk and dehydrated pre-gel with an ion solution to crosslink and rehydrate the unidirectionally shrunk and dehydrated pre-gel to produce the hydrogel.