Conductive Polymers as Active Optical Storage Media

Abstract

Conjugated polymers have been intensively studied in recent years due to their intrinsic conductivity and the wide range over which conductivity can be varied.1 Polypyrrole and polythiophene have received particular attention because these materials are stable in air with conductivity in the range of 102 S/cm.2 While conductivity and weight loss have been determined as a function of temperature,3 analysis of the resultant pyrolized products has not been attempted. Of particular interest is the photothermal and/or photochemical processes which would be initiated by a focused laser beam.