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Conductive polymers have the overlooked electrochemical properties. Nanostructures of conductive polymers, such as polypyrrole (PPy) and polythiophene (PTp) derivatives, showed the reversible redox reactions with multiple lithium ions for application to high-performance anode of lithium-ion battery. The PPy and PTp with the carboxy substituents have the enhanced specific capacity up to 730 and 963 mAh g^–1, respectively.

Phase separation based on simultaneous polymerization and crystallization generated the segregated composite of organic crystals and conductive polymers in submicrometer scale. The phase-segregated structure of redox-active conductive polymer and quinone crystal showed the enhanced charge-storage properties based on the smooth redox reaction.

“Polypyrrole, poly(N-methylpyrrole) and poly(N-ethylpyrrole) nanoparticles with surfactant-free clean surfaces were successfully synthesized via a vapor-phase coupling polymerization protocol. The particles could achieve colloidal stability through an electrostatic stabilization mechanism, as the polymerization process introduces cationic charges to the polymers via doping. The particles could adsorb on oil‒water interfaces and work as effective Pickering-type emulsifiers. Suspension polymerization of vinyl monomer-in-water Pickering emulsions stabilized with the nanoparticles resulted in the production of nanoparticle-coated polymer microparticles.”

Highly porous organic structures are synthesized by the oxidative polymerization of pyrrole derivatives in a concentrated monomer and oxidant solution. The rapid polymerization of pyrrole derivatives by oxidation with FeCl₃ in CHCl₃ as a cosolvent for the monomer and the oxidant leads to nanometer-scale branching morphologies that have a specific surface area of ~900 m² g⁻¹ with bimodal pore-size distribution.

The hollow-coned morphologies have been formed on carbonate crystals of calcite, aragonite and vaterite polymorphs through a molecular-control approach by using an acid organic polymer. The oriented nanocrystals with incorporation of organic polymers formed the mesocrystal structures leading to the formation of the macroscopic hollow-coned morphologies.

Polydiacetylene (PDA) derivatives exhibit color change with application of external stimuli, such as heating and mechanical stress. The original layered PDA shows the irreversible color transition from blue to red with heating at the threshold temperature. Here we found that the alkyldiamine-intercalated PDA induced the different color-change properties, such as the raise of the color-transition temperature, the temperature-dependent color-change, and the reversible color change. The intercalated diamines have the stabilization effect of the layered polymer. The stimuli-responsive color-change properties can be tuned by the intercalated organic guests.

Shapeable synthesis of porous silica frameworks was achieved in an aqueous system using polyacrylamide (PAAm) gel as an organic template and hydrolyzed silicon alkoxide as a silica source. Macroscopically shaped frameworks comprised of 10- to 50-nm diameter silica particles are obtained via PAAm–silica precursor gels. The mechanical properties of the silica frameworks depending on the packing density are controlled by changing the silica content in PAAm gels.

Dendritic morphologies of a metal oxide, metal and conductive polymer were obtained by using the dendrites of a transition metal salt as a template. Dendrites of the transition metal salt, copper acetate monohydrate (Cu(CH₃COO)₂·H₂O), were prepared under diffusion-controlled conditions in a polymer matrix, such as poly(vinyl alcohol). The resultant dendritic morphologies of Cu(CH₃COO)₂·H₂O were replicated to copper oxide (CuO), metallic copper (Cu) and polypyrrole without morphological changes. These methods can be applied to other metal oxides, metals and polymers.

Exfoliation of layered materials is a common route to 2D materials. Here an amorphous copolymer of benzoquinone and pyrrole is exfoliated to yield an active HER catalyst.

CaCO₃/chitin-whisker hybrids were prepared by deposition of CaCO₃ crystals in ordered chitin gel matrices. The gels were prepared by conversion of lyotropic liquid crystals of chitin whiskers.

Doping lanthanides into lamellar crystals of diacetylene derivatives with terminal carboxylic acids reorganized the lamellar structure and dramatically changed the crystal morphology. Detailed investigation of the crystal growth process revealed that the complexes of lanthanide and diacetylene derivatives, which are slightly formed in the solution phase during lanthanide doping, may act as a pseudonuclear agent and change the morphology of the lamellar crystals. Furthermore, the morphology changes of the lamellar crystal films significantly altered surface properties such as film appearance and water repellency.