Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) and Its Derivatives: Past, Present, and Future

An overview of one of the most successful conducting polymers, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDT) and its derivatives, is presented, detailing its early development, the synthesis of numerous hybrid and derivative materials, along with a description of the broad array of properties accessible and a description of a set of the more prominent applications in which they can be utilized. Synthetic flexibility and facility is the key to the many new 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene- (EDT-) based monomers, oligomers, and (co) polymers. These (co) polymers provide highly conducting and especially stable doped states, a range of optical properties with electronic bandgaps varying across the entire visible spectrum, and enhanced redox properties, making them useful for numerous electrochemical devices. Present and future applications for PEDT that are discussed include static charge dissipation films and electrode materials in solid electrolyte capacitors.