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There are over 100 conducting polymers which have been synthesised by chemists with a wide range of specific electrical conductivities. Many of these polymers are suitable for elec tronic device fabrication. Semi-conducting and conducting polymers have potential for application in several areas. In this paper electronic and microwave properties are explored. Fabrication of elec tronic and microwave devices can be achieved with these special polymers which are not possible with say silicon or gallium arsenide. Wide area flexible electronic junctions can be fabricated. Polymers have low density, hence conductivity to weight ratio can be higher than metals. Optical transparency together with electrical conduction has been achieved. This article presents an overview of the results of investigations undertaken within the Centre for Materials Technology (CMT) in this area over the past 4 years. This includes work on monomer and polymer synthesis, molecular structure-property relationships, electromagnetic shielding, thermal, optical and junction properties.

Before conducting polymers can be employed in many applications, some of the intrinsic properties of these materials need to be better understood. An overview of the research and development of conducting polymers being undertaken at UTS is presented. Because conducting polymers are difficult to process once fabricated, an understanding of synthesis parameters and the use of synthesis techniques to pro duce conducting polymer films with desired properties is of the upmost importance. Descriptions of the galvanostatic and potentiostatic techniques employed to produce polyheterocyclics are presented. Thermal properties such as thermal diffusivity, ther mal conductivity and specific heat are being investigated. Preliminary results reveal that the thermal diffusivity of polypyrrole is higher than that achieved with traditional polymers. The nature of contacts and junctions with polypyrrole and poly(3-methyl thiophene) are discussed. High work function metals form ohmic junctions with polypyr role while aluminium forms a Schottky barrier with poly(3-methylthiophene). Micro wave studies on polypyrrole films reveal that the microwave transmission and reflection are dependent upon the doping level of the film. Applications of the conducting polymers in data security modules and for light weight electrically conducting wires are also il lustrated.