‘Organic metals.’ Reaction of FeCl3 with polyacetylene, (CH)x, and poly-(p-phenylene), (p-C6H4)x

Abstract

Films of the polymer semiconductor polyacetylene, (CH)_x and powders of the polymer semiconductor poly-(pphenylene), (pC₆H₄)_x, when treated with FeCL₃(dissolved in dry nitromethane), are converted into organic metals which exhibit high p-type conductivity due to the oxidation of the π-system of the polymers, with the concomitant complete reducation of Fe³⁺ to Fe²⁺, as evidenced by Mössbauer spectroscopy.