Electrical and structural properties of a new conducting polymer: Pyrolytic poly (p-Phenylene-1,3,4-Oxadiazole)

Poly( p -phenylene-1,3,4-oxadiazole) (POD) films were pyrolyzed at various temperatures and their electrical and structural properties were investigated. A room temperature conductivity of about 510 S cm −1 was obtained for pyrolysis temperature of 1400° C. The pyrolyzed films were composed of both extended electronic states which contribute to a temperature-independent metallic conductivity and localized states giving rise to a variable range hopping motion of electrons. The structure was thought to be a graphite-like crystal having condensed aromatic layers with nitrogen-containing heterocyclic rings.