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Zhong, J. Polythiophene. Encyclopedia. Available online: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/61215 (accessed on 09 November 2026).
Zhong J. Polythiophene. Encyclopedia. Available at: https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/61215. Accessed November 09, 2026.
Zhong, Jack. "Polythiophene" Encyclopedia, https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/61215 (accessed November 09, 2026).
Zhong, J. (2026, October 21). Polythiophene. In Encyclopedia. https://encyclopedia.pub/entry/61215
Zhong, Jack. "Polythiophene." Encyclopedia. Web. 21 October, 2026.

Polythiophene

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Polythiophene is a conjugated polymer built from thiophene rings linked at the 2- and 5-positions. The overlap of the pi orbitals along the chain gives it an extended conjugation, and oxidation or reduction produces mobile charge carriers [1]. The unsubstituted polymer is insoluble and infusible, so alkyl side chains are attached to the 3-position to make it processable [2]. The regioregularity of those side chains controls how the chains stack, and a head-to-tail arrangement gives the highest conductivity [3]. Doping shifts the absorption from the visible into the near infrared, which underlies the electrochromic behaviour [4]. The conductivity falls on exposure to air because the doped state is oxidatively unstable, so encapsulation is needed for a stable device [5].

conjugated polymer thiophene ring regioregularity doping electrical conductivity alkyl side chain electrochromism
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References

  1. Zotti, G.; Salmaso, R.; Gallazzi, M.C.; Marin, R.A. In Situ Conductivity of a Polythiophene from a Branched Alkoxy-Substituted Tetrathiophene. Enhancement of Conductivity by Conjugated Cross-Linking of Polymer Chains. Chemistry of Materials 1997, 9, 791-795. [CrossRef]
  2. Thanasamy, D.; Jesuraj, D.; Konda kannan, S.K.; Avadhanam, V. A novel route to synthesis polythiophene with great yield and high electrical conductivity without post doping process. Polymer 2019, 175, 32-40. [CrossRef]
  3. Li, W.; Wang, X.; Zhang, B.; Chen, Y. In Situ Modification of Multi-Walled Carbon Nanotubes with Polythiophene-Based Conjugated Polymer for Information Storage. Materials 2023, 16, 908. [CrossRef]
  4. Fabre, B. Trifluoroborate-substituted polythiophene as a novel conjugated polymer promising for sensing and solid-state reactions. Electrochemistry Communications 2001, 3, 549-552. [CrossRef]
  5. Bredas, J.L.; Heeger, A.J. Theoretical investigation of gas-phase torsion potentials along conjugated polymer backbones: polyacetylene, polydiacetylene, and polythiophene. Macromolecules 1990, 23, 1150-1156. [CrossRef]
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Subjects: Polymer Science
Contributor MDPI registered users' name will be linked to their SciProfiles pages. To register with us, please refer to https://encyclopedia.pub/register : Jack Zhong
View Times: 7
Entry Collection: Polymer Concepts
Revisions: 2 times (View History)
Update Date: 23 Oct 2026
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