Patent ID: 7279534

Claim:
A block copolymer which comprises at least one block of a poly(heteroaromatic) polymer and at least two blocks of a second polymer wherein: the poly(heteroaromatic) polymer block comprises repeating units of one or more heteroaromatic monomers which are bonded to each other by chemical bonds formed between carbon atoms of the heteroaromatic rings of the monomers and are selected from the group consisting of pyrroles, thiophenes, selenophenes, tellurophenes, furans, indoles, isoindoles, pyridines, pyrimidines, pyrazines, triazines, imidazoles, quinolines, isoquinolines, benzimidazoles, thiazoles, triazoles, oxadiazoles, dithienobenzene, carbazoles, benzothiophenes, isobenzothiophenes, benzofurans, isobenzofurans, isobenzoselenophenes, isobenzotellurophenes, their substituted derivatives, and mixtures thereof; and the at least two second polymer blocks are selected from the group consisting of polyethers, poly(fluoroethers), polyglycols, polyacetals, polyolefins, polystyrene, polyfluoroolefins, polyoxides, polychlorolefins, polychlorofluoroolefins, polysiloxanes, polyesters, polybromoesters, natural and synthetic rubbers, polyols, polyalcohols, polyacids, polycarbonates, polyanhydrides, polysulfides, polyamides, polyamines, polyimides, vinyl polymers, polymers derived from the polymerization of unsaturated monomers, polyacrylates, polymethacrylates, polyacrylonitriles, polybutadiene, alkyds, polyurethanes, epoxies, cellulose and its derivatives, starch and its derivatives, polypeptides, and copolymers thereof, wherein the at least two blocks of the second polymer are not linked to each other; wherein the at least one poly(heteroaromatic) polymer block is either oxidized or reduced to polyionic form and is associated with counterions that balance the charge of the polyionic block and wherein the block copolymer is an electrically conductive polymer.