K.Jacinth Mispa
Conducting polymers (CPs) form a class of organic materials whose electronic properties bridge the gap between conventional insulating polymers and inorganic conductors such as metals or metal oxides. Their discovery challenged the long-held assumption that conjugated organicmaterials were inherently insulating, opening a new field that connected polymer chemistry, condensed matter physics, electrochemistry, and materials science.At the molecular level, conducting polymers possess a π-conjugated backbone-typically composed of alternating single and double bonds-which supports the delocalization of electrons. This conjugation enables charge transport upon either chemical doping (oxidation or reduction) or electrochemical doping. The resulting mobile charge carriers-polarons,bipolarons, solitons, or delocalized states-give conducting polymers unique electrical, electrochemical, and optical properties.