Synthesis and physical characterization of electrically conducting polymers of polynuclear aromatic sulfonyl compounds

Potentially useful conducting polymers of sulfonyl substituted phenanthrene derivatives and non-conducting linear polymers, such as, polystyrene and poly(N-vinylcarbazole) have been synthesized and characterized using IR, thermogravimetric and dielectric measurements. The phenanthrene-based benzene, naphthalene and biphenyl copolysulfones have also been prepared and characterized through these techniques. These pendant and backbone polymer sulfones have exceptionally high thermal stability and electrical conductivity, such that dc conductivity in the range 2.80 × 10−16 to 2.82 × 10−7 Ω−1 cm−1 and ac conductivity in the range 1.69 × 10−7 to 2.10 × 10−6 Ω−1 cm−1.