Abstract: Poly(p-arylene-vinylenes) comprising repeating units of the formula (I), where the symbols and indices have the following meanings: Y1, Y2, Y3: identical or different, CH, N; Aryl: an aryl group having from 4 to 14 carbon atoms; R′, R″: identical or different, each a straight-chain or branched or cyclic alkyl or alkoxy group having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms, where one or more non-adjacent CH2 groups may be replaced by —O—, —S—, —CO—, —COO—, —O—CO—, —NR1—, —(NR2R3)+—A−, or —CONR4— and one or more H atoms may be replaced by F, or else CN, F, Cl or an aryl group having from 4 to 14 carbon atoms which may be substituted by one or more nonaromatic radicals R′; R1, R2, R3, R4: identical or different, aliphatic or aromatic hydrocarbon radicals having from 1 to 20 carbon atoms or else H; A−: a singly charged anion or its equivalent; m: 0, 1 or 2; n: 1, 2, 3,