The routes towards three-dimensional conducting polymers .2. Transport properties of fully conjugated gels of poly(3-n-octylthiophene)

The conductivity and the thermoelectric power of fully conjugated networks of poly(3-n-octylthiophene) have been measured as a function of the temperature between 15 and 300 K. Despite the interchain conjugated reticulation the conduction process is still governed by hopping. The data are in good agreement with a model of inter-cluster hopping conduction. The cluster size is discussed as a function of the reticulation ratio. It is pointed out that the presence of the reticulation points gives rise to specific properties, in particular the intrinsic intra-cluster conductivity is enhanced as compared to that of poly(3-n-octylthiophene). (C) 1997 Elsevier Science Ltd.