"Conjugated organic polymers are intrinsic semiconducting materials that exhibit enhanced conductivity upon oxidation or reduction. The unusual nature of this class of organic polymers was brought into particular focus in the late 1970s with the first example of conductivity values in the metallic regime, for which the 2000 Nobel Prize in Chemistry was awarded to Hideki Shirakawa, Alan MacDiarmid, and Alan Heeger. As such, it is generally believed that these materials are a relatively recent advancement and originated with this polyacetylene work in the 1970s. This accepted narrative, however, ignores the fact that reports of electrically conductive polymers date back to the early 1960s, with the study of conjugated polymers as a whole dating back to theearly 19th century. In fact, the oldest member of this family, polyaniline, predates even polystyrene and is the oldest known fully synthetic organic polymer. Unfortunately, the historical narrative of these polymers is quite muddled in the primary literature, with various inaccuracies and falsehoods commonly propagated. To present a more accurate account as a resource for the field, this book aims to present a comprehensive history of the origin and development of conjugated organic polymers, covering the period of 1834 to the late 1980s. In the process, the history of the first six primary parent polymers (polyaniline, polypyrrole, polyphenylene, poly(phenylene vinylene), polyacetylene, and polythiophene) are all presented, as well as the birth of low bandgap polymers in the mid-1980s"--
Using a range of examples of conducting polymers from the early 19th century onwards, this book shows that the history of conjugated organic polymers begins before the late 1970s, thus rethinking the accepted historical narrative and providing new insights.
Conjugated organic polymers first drew significant interest in the late 1970s when metallic-looking plastic films of polyacetylene were shown to exhibit conductivities in the metallic regime after treatment with various oxidizing agents. These results formed the basis for awarding Alan MacDiarmid, Alan Heeger, and Hideki Shirakawa the 2000 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for the "for the discovery and development of electrically conductive polymers." However, reports of electrically conductive polymers date back to the early 1960s, with the study of conjugated polymers as a whole dating back to the early 19th century.
The Origins and Early History of Conjugated Organic Polymers rethinks the accepted historical narrative of conjugated organic polymers, challenges the established interpretations, and provides new insights into these fascinating electronic materials. Using a range of reader-friendly figures, tables, and illustrations, this book charts the history of the first six primary parent polymers, beginning with the introduction of polyaniline in 1834 and continuing up through the development of polythiophenes and low bandgap polymers in the 1980s.
Thought-provoking and original, The Origins and Early History of Conjugated Organic Polymers presents an authoritative history of the primary conjugated organic materials that now make up the foundations of a significant field of science and technology.
