Anisotropic, conducting films from imide anion radicals and poly(vinyl alcohol) formed by casting

Abstract N , N ′-Bis( N -methyl-4-pyrdinium) 1,4,5,8-naphthalenetetracarboxylic diimide anion radicals and poly(vinyl alcohol) are used to cast air-stable, flexible films from water. Characterization by visible, NIR, IR and ESR spectroscopies shows that the anion radicals are present as π-stacks oriented preferentially in the film plane. This leads to inplane conductivities up to 10 3 higher than those across the film.