A radiation-crosslinkable thiophene copolymer

Soluble polythiophenes with functional acrylic moieties in the side chain can be prepared by copolymerization of hexylthiophene and an acrylated thiophene. Short reaction times are required to inhibit the acrylic function to interfere with the oxidative thiophene polymerization with FeCl3. Preliminary irradiation experiments have shown that the copolymers act as negative resists in electron-beam (EB)-lithographic procedures, and can lead to conductive patterns.