Soliton excitations in liquid crystal polyacetylene.

A disubstituted polyacetylene with lyotropic liquid crystallinity showing SmA was synthesized. The number-average-molecular weight of the polymer was 5.2 × 105 g/mol. Vapor phase iodine doping for the disubstituted polyacetylene in the form of liquid crystal order allows the generation of charge carriers. The ESR measurements show the charge carriers exhibit Pauli paramagnetism, indicating that these carriers are polarons. Mott-type variable range hopping (VRH) conduction of the polymer was observed. The combination of SmA molecular architecture and electrical conduction by polyene as a molecular wire in the polyacetylene derivative results in liquid crystal electrical conduction via electro-soliton movement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]