Electroluminescent conjugated polymers - Seeing polymers in a new light

A major recent development in the field of molecular electronics has been the discovery of electroluminescent conjugated polymers - that is, fluorescent polymers that emit light when excited by the flow of an electric current. These materials may now challenge the domination by inorganic materials of the commercial market in light-emitting diodes. Conjugated polymers are particularly versatile because their physical properties (color, emission efficiency) can be fine-tuned by manipulation of their chemical structures. The development of polymer-based light-emitting devices has been accompanied by an increased understanding of the processes involved in device function and breakdown, and the systematic modification of the properties of the emissive polymers by synthetic design has become a vital component in the optimization of light-emitting devices. In this account we present an overview of the synthesis and properties of electroluminescent polymers and demonstrate through examples the development of the field. There are many aspects of fundamental science to be studied in order to realize commercial applications of this serendipitous discovery. Opportunities for synthesis abound.