Properties and Applications of Conducting Polymers

Conducting polymers, a class of organic materials that combine the mechanical properties of conventional plastics with electronic conductivity approaching that of metals, have garnered sustained interest across disciplines. Their distinctive properties arise from conjugated π-electron systems along linear macromolecular chains, enabling charge delocalisation under appropriate doping. They exhibit tunable conductivity, mechanical flexibility and environmental stability, making them attractive for applications ranging from energy storage and conversion to flexible electronics, sensors, anti-corrosion coatings and biomedical devices. Advances in synthesis—including oxidative polymerisation, electrochemical deposition and interfacial polymerisation—allow precise control of morphology at the micro- and nanoscale, tailoring electrical, optical and mechanical performance. Hybridisation with carbon-based nanomaterials, metal nanoparticles or metal oxides further enhances conductivity, processability and functionality. Beyond traditional polyaniline, polypyrrole and poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), emerging systems feature block copolymers, biocompatible derivatives and conductive hydrogels, broadening the scope of device configurations and sustainable production. The global significance of conducting polymers is underscored by their role in flexible energy harvesters, stretchable sensors for health monitoring and anticorrosion coatings for infrastructure, marking a transition towards multifunctional organic electronics integrated in everyday environments.

Research from Nature Portfolio

Recent studies have examined the influence of dopant type and polymer content on the thermal, mechanical and electrical properties of electroconductive composites. Elastic fibres produced via electrospinning, comprising polyaniline and polyacrylonitrile, demonstrated that counterion selection—sulphuric acid versus hydrochloric acid—governs conductivity and thermal stability. Higher acid-doped samples achieved conductivities approaching 10⁻¹ S/cm, while thermal decomposition temperatures exceeded 250 °C at elevated polymer loadings. Dynamic mechanical analysis revealed that the glass transition of the host polymer matrix remained largely unaffected by moderate polyaniline incorporation, indicating processability for textile-like devices. Morphological studies confirmed uniform nanofibre formation, and spectroscopic characterisation linked dopant–polymer interactions to charge delocalisation and mechanical integrity.

Properties and Applications of Conducting Polymers publication trend

The graph below shows the total number of articles in properties and applications of conducting polymers across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).

Technical terms

Doping: The introduction of charged species into a polymer to enhance electrical conductivity by creating charge carriers.

Conductivity: A measure of a material’s ability to transport electrical charge, typically expressed in siemens per centimetre (S/cm).

Composite material: A system formed by combining two or more distinct materials, often to synergistically improve mechanical and electrical properties.

Electrospinning: A fabrication technique that produces fine polymer fibres through the application of a high-voltage electric field to a polymer solution.

References

1. Conducting polymers: a comprehensive review on recent advances in synthesis, properties and applications. RSC Advances (2021).
2. Effect of polyaniline content and protonating dopants on electroconductive composites. Scientific Reports (2021).
3. Preparations, Properties, and Applications of Polyaniline and Polyaniline Thin Films—A Review. Polymers (2021).
4. A review of advances in the preparation and application of polyaniline based thermoset blends and composites. Journal of Polymer Research (2020).