Abstract: A dendron (2) comprising a focal point (4) and a plurality of fluorinated end groups (9) is disclosed, including one having a thiol, a silane, a carboxylic acid, a phosphonate or another moiety at the focal point suitable for chemisorption to a substrate (3). A self-assembled monolayer comprising a plurality of dendrons bonded to a substrate and a device comprising the self-assembled monolayer are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for making a polymer or oligomer comprising the steps of making a first monomer comprising a substituted aromatic or heteroaromatic group by providing an aromatic or heteroaromatic group substituted with first and second director groups, performing metalisation at a first position on the aromatic or heteroaromatic group, performing electrophilic substitution so as to provide a first substituent group at the first position, and contacting in a reaction mixture the first monomer with at least two further monomers that independently are the same or different from the first monomer under conditions so as to form a polymer or oligomer, wherein the nature and positions of the first and second director groups regioselect the first position.

Abstract: A photodetector device includes a semiconductive conjugated polymer, such as PPV, arranged between first and second electrode layers having different work functions, a bias circuitry connected to apply a bias voltage between the first and second electrode layers, and a sensing circuitry connected to detect a photocurrent flowing between the first and second electrode layers across the polymer layer as a result of radiation incident on the polymer layer while the bias voltage is applied. The bias voltage is selected in relation to the thickness of the polymer layer.

Abstract: This invention provides semiconductive conjugated polymers incorporating electron-withdrawing groups for use in electroluminescent devices, methods for their manufacture, and electroluminescent devices incorporating the polymers. The electron-withdrawing group is conjugatively linked to the polymer chain and is selected so that the polymer exhibits electroluminesence upon application of an electric field to a layer thereof.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming in a semiconductive conjugated polymer at least first and second legions having different optical properties. The method comprises: forming a layer of a precursor polymer and permitting the first region to come into contact with a reactant, such as an acid, and heat while permitting the second region to come into contact with a lower concentration of the reactant. The reactant affects the conversion conditions of the precursor polymer in such a way as to control the optical properties of at least the first region so that the optical properties of the first region are different from those of the second region. The precursor polymer may comprise a poly(arylene-1, 2-ethanediyl) polymer, at least some of the ethane groups of which include a modifier group whose susceptibility to elimination is increased in the presence of the reactant.