Ring-Torsional Polarons in Polyaniline and Polyparaphenylene Sulfide
Abstract
The role of the dihedral angle of the backbone phenyl rings in determining the electronic structure and charge storage mechanism in polyaniline (PAN) and polyparaphenylene sulfide (PPS) is reviewed. The sensitivity of the average ring torsion angle to the effects of steric repulsion and electron delocalization is manifest in the effects of derivatization and temperature on the optical spectra of these materials. It is shown that charge is self-trapped into localized defect states in part via changes in ring angle, leading to novel ring-torsional polarons which induce only one defect level into the energy gap and possess a very large kinetic mass (50 - 500 me). Evidence for the existence of these defects in PAN and PPS is discussed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Mar 15, 1991
- Accession Number
- ADA234384
Entities
People
- A. G. Macdiarmid
- Arthur J. Epstein
- J. M. Ginder
Organizations
- University of Pennsylvania