Highly Conjugated Ionic Polyacetylenes: Thin-Film Processing and Potential Applications

Processible, highly conjugated polyacetylenes (PAs) may sound like a contradiction in terms, since PAs are insoluble, infusible, and electrically unstable. However, a recent attempt to overcome these limitations by introducing one or two ionic charges into each repeat unit (see Figure) was successful. Amphiphilic systems, composites, and blends are described, together with some features of the resulting films.