Polaron lattice in highly conducting polyaniline: Theoretical and optical studies

We present optical-absorption data together with band-structure calculations for the polaron lattice and bipolaron lattice for the highly conducting form of polyaniline, proton-doped polyemeraldine. We show that the polaron-lattice band structure fully accounts for the observed optical transitions. These results are in marked contrast with the electronic structure of other doped conducting polymers, in that only one single broad polaron band appears deep in the gap together with a very narrow band nearly degenerate with the conduction-band edge.