STABILITY STUDIES OF ELECTRICALLY CONDUCTING POLYHETEROCYCLES

The stability of the electrical conductivity of two types of polyheterocycles, the poly(3-alkylthiophenes) and polypyrrole, was examined under systematically controlled environmental and thermal conditions. The conductivity stability of the polypyrroles was found to be significantly better than that of the poly(3-alkylthiophenes). Polypyrroles doped with arylsulfonates were found to exhibit excellent stability in inert atmospheres but were slightly less stable in the presence of dry or humid air. Polypyrrole samples doped with the tosylate anion were found to be the most stable, while polypyrroles doped with longer sidechain substituted benzenesulfonates exhibited poorer stability.