Recent Applications of Conjugated Polyelectrolytes in Optoelectronic Devices

Conjugated polyelectrolytes comprise an electronically delocalized backbone with pendant groups bearing ionic functionalities. Important new developments regarding their use to improve charge injection from metallic electrodes into organic semiconductors, a key requirement in emissive devices, have recently appeared. This article provides an overview of recent studies concerning the basic properties of conjugated polyelectrolytes as a function of molecular structure, and of optoelectronic devices with conjugated polyelectrolytes as essential functional components. Processes where more insightful mechanistic understanding is needed and areas of opportunity are discussed.