Abstract: A method of forming a polymer device including the steps (i) of depositing on a substrate a solution containing a polymer or oligomer and a crosslinking moiety, to form a layer, and, (ii) curing the layer formed in step (i) under conditions to form an insoluble crosslinked polymer, wherein the crosslinking moiety is present in step (i) in an amount in the range of from 0.05 mol % to 5 mol % based on the total number of moles or repeat units of the polymer or oligomer and the crosslinking moiety in the solution.

Abstract: An electro optic device comprising a first electrode and a second electrode and an emissive layer located between the first and second electrodes, the emissive layer comprising a polymeric semiconductor, or semiconducting and luminescent material having a thickness of 200 nm to 3000 nm.

Abstract: A light emissive or photovoltaic device comprising: a cathode structure for injecting electrons, the cathode structure having one or more constituent regions; an anode structure for injecting holes, the anode structure having one or more constituent regions; and an organic light emissive component located between the anode structure and the cathode structure; the refractive indices and the thicknesses of the or each constituent region of the cathode and anode structures and of the light emissive component being such that the emission or absorption spectrum of the device is substantially angularly dependent.

Abstract: A method of preparing an efficient photoresponsive device includes the steps of providing a first electrode on a substrate, providing a layer of an organic material including a blend of at least two semiconductive polymers having different electrode affinities and/or different ionization potentials over the first electrode, providing a second electrode over the layer of organic material, at least one of the electrodes being a transparent or semi-transparent, to form a photoresponsive device, and thermally annealing the photoresponsive device.

Abstract: A display control device for a light-emissive display comprising: input means for receiving display data defining a visual display pattern, processing means for processing the display data to generate control data for controlling the pixels of the display and having a first, normal mode of operation in which it controls the pixels to display the pattern as defined by the display data, and a second, power-saving mode of operation in which it controls a set of pixels of the display to operate with reduced power consumption whilst maintaining display of the pattern, and output means for connection to the pixels to transmit the control data to the pixels.

Abstract: A method of preparing an efficient photoresponsive device includes the steps of providing a first electrode on a substrate, providing a layer of an organic material including a blend of at least two semiconductive polymers having different electrode affinities and/or different ionization potentials over the first electrode, providing a second electrode over the layer of organic material, at least one of the electrodes being a transparent or semi-transparent, to form a photoresponsive device, and thermally annealing the photoresponsive device.

Abstract: A method of preparing an efficient photoresponsive device includes the steps of providing a first electrode on a substrate, providing a layer of an organic material including a blend of at least two semiconductive polymers having different electrode affinities and/or different ionization potentials over the first electrode, providing a second electrode over the layer of organic material, at least one of the electrodes being a transparent or semi-transparent, to form a photoresponsive device, and thermally annealing the photoresponsive device.

Abstract: The new fluorocarbon-functionalized polythiophenes, in particular, &agr;,&ohgr;-diperfluorohexylsexithiophene DFH-6T (1) can be straightforwardly prepared in high yield and purified by gradient sublimation. Introduction of perfluorocarbon chains on the thiophene core affords enhanced thermal stability and volatility, and increased electron affinity versus the fluorine-free analog 2. Evaporated films of 1, for example, behave as n-type semiconductors, and can be used to fabricate thin film transistors with FET mobilities on the order of ˜0.01 cm2/Vs—some of the highest reported to date for n-type organic semiconductors.

Abstract: A method of preparing an efficient photoresponsive device includes the steps of providing a first electrode on a substrate, providing a layer of an organic material including a blend of at least two semiconductive polymers having different electrode affinities and/or different ionization potentials over the first electrode, providing a second electrode over the layer of organic material, at least one of the electrodes being a transparent or semi-transparent, to form a photoresponsive device, and thermally annealing the photoresponsive device.

Abstract: A method for forming a display device, comprising: depositing a thin-film transistor switch circuit on a substrate; depositing by ink-jet printing an electrode layer of light transmissive conductive organic material in electrical contact with the output of the thin-film transistor circuit; and depositing an active region of the device over the electrode layer.

Abstract: An organic light-emitting device having an organic light-emitting region comprising a plurality of organic light-emitting pixels; switch means each associated with a respective pixel for switching power to that pixel; and drive means for driving each switch means to cycle between a first, low power mode and a second, high power mode, at a frequency sufficient to cause light emission from the associated pixel to appeal substantially continuous, the duration of the highpower mode relative to the low power mode being variable so as to vary the average brightness of the pixel.

Abstract: The new fluorocarbon-functionalized polythiophenes, in particular, &agr;,&ohgr;-diperfluorohexylsexithiophene DFH-6T (1) can be straightforwardly prepared in high yield and purified by gradient sublimation. Introduction of perfluorocarbon chains on the thiophene core affords enhanced thermal stability and volatility, and increased electron affinity versus the fluorine-free analog 2. Evaporated films of 1, for example, behave as n-type semiconductors, and can be used to fabricate thin film transistors with FET mobilities on the order of ˜0.01 cm2/Vs—some of the highest reported to date for n-type organic semiconductors.

Abstract: First and second electrodes (3 and 4) are provided on respective ones (2' and 2") of the first and second major surfaces of a photoresponsive zone (2). The photoresponsive zone (2) is in the form of a polymer blend having regions (2a) of a first semiconductive polymer and regions (2b) of a second semiconductive polymer phase-separated from the first semiconductive polymer. The second semiconductive polymer has an electron affinity greater than that of the first semiconductive polymer so that, in use of the device (1), a photocurrent between the first and second electrodes (3 and 4) resulting from light incident on the photoresponsive layer comprises electrons travelling predominantly through the second semiconductive polymer and holes travelling predominantly through the first semiconductive polymer.

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 semiconductive conjugated copolymer comprises at least two chemically different monomer units which, when existing in their individual homopolymer forms, have different semiconductor bandgaps. The proportion of said at least two chemically different monomer units in the copolymer is selected to control the semiconductor bandgap of the copolymer so as to control the optical properties of the copolymer. The copolymer is formed in a manner enabling it to be laid down as a film without substantially affecting the luminescent characteristics of the copolymer and is stable at operational temperature.The semiconductor bandgap may be spatially modulated so as to increase the quantum efficiency of the copolymer when excited to luminesce, to select the wavelength of radiation emitted during luminescence or to select the refractive index of the copolymer.

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.

Abstract: A semiconductive conjugated copolymer comprises at least two chemically different monomer units which, when existing in their individual homopolymer forms, have different semiconductor bandgaps. The proportion of said at least two chemically different monomer units in the copolymer is selected to control the semiconductor bandgap of the copolymer so as to control the optical properties of the copolymer. The copolymer is formed in a manner enabling it to be laid down as a film without substantially affecting the luminescent characteristics of the copolymer and is stable at operational temperature.The semiconductor bandgap may be spatially modulated so as to increase the quantum efficiency of the copolymer when excited to luminesce, to select the wavelength of radiation omitted during luminescence or to select the refractive index of the copolymer.

Abstract: An electroluminescent device includes a semiconductor layer (4) in the form of a thin dense polymer film comprising at least one conjugated polymer, a first contact layer (5) in contact with a first surface of the semiconductor layer, and a second contact layer (3) in contact with a second surface of the semiconductor layer. The polymer film (4) of the semiconductor layer has a sufficiently low concentration of extrinsic charge carriers that on applying an electric field between the first and second contact layers across the semiconductor layer so as to render the second contact layer positive relative to the first contact layer charge carriers are injected into the semiconductor layer and radiation is emitted from the semiconductor layer.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming in a semiconductive conjugated polymer at least first and second regions 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.