Electrical and photoelectrical properties of poly(diphenylacetylene)s

Short-chain poly(diphenylacetylene)s (PDPhA) bearing benzenecarbonyl and diphenylmethylene end groups were synthetized and their electrical and photoelectrical properties studied by the xerographic discharge method. Compared to polyacetylene and poly(phenylacetylene) pure PDPhA exhibits improved chemical stability, but lower dark electrical conductivity and photoconductivity. Introduction of two terminal carbonyls onto macromolecular chains was found to increase substantially both the electrical conductivity and free charge carrier photogeneration efficiency.