The functionalized 3,4-alkylenedioxythiophene (ADOT+) monomers can be represented by a
chemical formula (CR1R2)(CR3R4)(CR4R5)xO2C4H2S, wherein x=0 or 1; wherein each of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 is independently selected from
hydrogen, a hydrocarbyl
moiety, and a
heteroatom-containing functional group; and wherein at least one of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 comprises the
heteroatom-containing functional group selected from an
aldehyde, a
maleimide, and their derivatives thereof. Also, disclosed herein are
aldehyde derivatives represented by (ADOT-CH2—NH)pY and a
maleimide derivative represented by (ADOT-(CH2)q—N)pZ where p=1-2 and each of Y and Z is a hydrocarbyl
moiety or a biofunctional hydrocarbyl
moiety. In an embodiment of the ADOT+ monomers, one of R1, R2, R3, R4, R5, and R6 is replaced by a direct bond to an
amide group, an
azide group, or an ester group of a biofunctional hydrocarbyl moiety. Also, disclosed herein are polymers and copolymers made therefrom.