Phthalonitrile‐based conductive polymer

An aromatic, diether‐linked phthalonitrile resin, prepared from 4,4′‐bis(3,4‐dicyanophenoxy)biphenyl, can be converted into an environmentally stable, highly conductive material by thermal means. The conductivity of the pyrolyzed polymer can be varied and controlled as a function of both the pyrolytic temperature and annealing time. This allows the generation of a range of electrical behavior from an insulator to semiconductor and approaching metallic regions.