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The nanometer morphology of a mixture of the electrically conductive polymer poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) and polystyrenesulfonic acid is studied by means of solid state 13 C-CP/MAS NMR relaxation experiments. Based on the T 1 H and T 1 ρ H NMR relaxation decay times, determined via the chemical shift selective carbon resonances, it can be concluded that the mixture is homogeneous on the nanometer scale. Consequently, charge transport (hopping) between PEDT chains is hindered, resulting in antistatic properties.

Mechanistic studies on the formation of poly(isothianaphthene) (PITN) from phthalic anhydride and a thionating reagent (phosphorus pentasulphide or Lawessons' reagent) have shown that the thionating reagent is not crucial in the polymerization reaction itself; it only plays a role in the synthesis of the actual monomer, the tristhiophthalic anhydride. The polymerization process is not a classical polycondensation, but a process by which the very reactive tristhiophthalic anhydride monomer repeatedly attaches to the growing chain under expulsion of sulphur. We present new results obtained in studies on low molecular models, and we will focus on additional reactions induced by the thionating agent. A generalized mechanism will be proposed.