9315635 Wudl We will prepare and investigate a broad class of conjugated polymers which should exhibit improved environmental stability in the doped and undoped states and will be easily n-dopable. Some of these polymers, when processed, will have high strength while retaining the unusual electronic character of the conjugated polymers. Other members of the class will be polyelectrolytes based on stable carbanions. Still other polymers will be n-self- doped polymers. This group of polymers lends itself to the development of the concept of base-doping of conducting polymers concept which is complementary to acid doping of polyaniline emeraldine base. Two approaches will be pursued: (a) preparation of polymers where a number of cyanides are directly attached to the backbone and (b) preparation of polymers where a Huckel driving force is the principle for n-doping of the backbone. Once prepared, in collaboration with Professor Heeger's group in our Institute, the new polymeric materials will have their optical and electronic properties determined. These polymeric materials have potential applications as structural materials, as nonlinear optics substrates, as organic light emitting diode components, as all polymer p-n junction diodes, and as battery electrodes for all-polymer batteries and high-energy density batteries. ***
