“Synthetic metals”: a novel role for organic polymers

Since the initial discovery in 1977, that polyacetylene (CH)x, now commonly known as the prototype conducting polymer, could be p- or n-doped either chemically or electronically to the metallic state, the development of the field conducting polymers, “synthetic metals”, has continued to accelerate at an unexpectedly rapid rate and a variety of other conducting polymers and their derivatives have been discovered. Potential new science/technology has been developed by combining the now well established field of electronic polymers (intrinsically conducting polymers – “synthetic metals”, when doped) with the emerging field of nanoscience (one dimension <100 nm). A simple and inexpensive method is described for producing conducting patterns of electronic polymers on plastic and paper from computer-designed patterns. This method, “Line Patterning”, does not involve printing of the conducting polymers. The difference in hydrophobicity/hydrophilicity between a substrate and a line of regular toner printed on it by a non-modified, standard ofiice laser printer results in conducting polymer areas separated by insulating toner lines.