Electroactive polymers of the structure and formula ##STR1## in their neutral and ionized forms, where the backbone group R.sub.b is selected from or is a combination of five- and six-membered rings capable of aromatic and quinonoid bonding structures, R.sub.s is selected from aliphatic, aromatic and heterocyclic groups, x and y, are positive integers from 1 to 5 and m is a positive integer from 1 to about 10,000, together with a method of making them are disclosed.