The Discovery and Development of Conducting Polymers The Scope of This Historical Overview Introduction An Early Example: Polyaniline The First Electrically Conductive Poly(Heterocycle): Polypyrrole The Fundamental Breakthrough: Doped Polyacetylene Conductive Polymers versus Metals and Insulators Metals, Semiconductors, and Insulators Conjugated Polymers Temperature-Dependent Conductivity Order and Disorder Polythiophenes: A Chance for Maximum Conductivity? Oxygen-Substituted Polythiophenes A Short History of the PEDOT Invention The Synthesis of EDOT Monomer, and Its Physical and Chemical Properties Monomer Synthesis Physical Properties Chemical Properties From EDOT to PEDOT: Oxidative Polymerization and Other Routes Oxidative Polymerization and Doping "Self-Oxidation" of EDOT Halogen Derivatives The Organometallic Route to PEDOT Neutral, Undoped PEDOT by Oxidative Polymerization Counterions for PEDOT Counterions in Electrochemically Polymerized PEDOT Counterions in Chemically Polymerized PEDOT The In Situ Polymerization of EDOT to PEDOT Synthesis of In Situ PEDOT Properties of In Situ PEDOT In Situ Polymerization of EDOT Derivatives and Relatives PEDOT: PSS PEDOT: PSS Dispersions Properties of PEDOT: PSS Secondary Doping Applications Solid Electrolyte Capacitors Through Hole Plating for Printed Wiring Boards ITO Substitution Antistatic Coatings Electroluminescent Lamps Organic Light Emitting Diodes (OLEDs) PEDOT:PSS in Organic Solar Cells Electrochromic Behavior Organic Field-Effect Transistors Technical Use and Commercial Aspects EDOT and PEDOT Derivatives with Covalently Attached Side Groups EDOT-CH2OH and Its Derivatives EDOT-CH2Cl and Its Follow-Up Products Alkyl EDOTs Water Soluble, "Self-Doping" EDOT Derivatives XDOTs, EDXTs, EDOXs, and 2(5)-X(2)-EDOTs: Ring Size Variations, Heteroanalogs, and Derivatives of EDOT with Substituents at the Thiophene Ring 3,4-Methylenedioxythiophene (MDOT) ProDOT (Propylenedioxythiophene) Derivatives Vinylenedioxythiophene (VDOT) and Benzo-EDOT 3,4-Ethyleneoxythiathiophene (EOTT) 3,4-Ethylene dithiathiophene (EDTT) 3,4-Ethylenedioxypyrrole (EDOP) and Its Derivatives 3,4-Ethylenedioxyselenophene (EDOS) 2,5-Disubstituted EDOT Derivatives [2(,5)-X(2)-EDOTs] The Electrochemical Behavior of EDOT and PEDOT