Method for synthesizing conducting polymers from neat monomer solutions

• US 20050004336A1
• Filed: 05/10/2004
• Published: 01/06/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Northeastern University
• Original Assignee: Northeastern University
• Inventors: Mabrouk, Patricia Ann
• Application Number:
  US10/842,249
• Publication Number:
  US 20050004336A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 526/258
• CPC Class Codes: B82Y 10/00 Nanotechnology for information processing, storage or transmission, e.g. quantum computing or single electron logic
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 61/124 with a five-membered ring containing one nitrogen atom in the ring
• CPC Class Codes: C08G 73/0611 with only one nitrogen atom in the ring, e.g. polypyrroles polysuccinimides C08G73/1092
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 1/127 comprising five-membered aromatic rings in the main chain, e.g. polypyrroles, polythiophenes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 2300/0082 Organic polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/103 having nitrogen, e.g. sulfonated polybenzimidazoles [S-PBI], polybenzimidazoles with phosphoric acid, sulfonated polyamides [S-PA] or sulfonated polyphosphazenes [S-PPh]
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1048 Ion-conducting additives, e.g. ion-conducting particles, heteropolyacids, metal phosphate or polybenzimidazole with phosphoric acid
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 8/1072 by chemical reactions, e.g. insitu polymerisation or insitu crosslinking
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/50 Fuel cells
• CPC Class Codes: Y02P 70/50 Manufacturing or production processes characterised by the final manufactured product

Abstract

A method for electrochemically synthesizing polymers from neat monomer solutions is disclosed. Syntheses of such polymers are carried out in the presence of electrolyte-dopants, which influence the physical and chemical properties of the resulting polymer, particularly conductive polymers. These syntheses occur in an electrochemical cell having working and counter electrodes suitable for electrochemical oxidation and reduction. The method is particularly convenient for synthesizing conductive polypyrrole from a neat pyrrole monomer solution. Polypyrrole synthesized according to this method has a conductivity comparable to conductive polypyrrole synthesized via typical chemical and electrochemical methods.

Claims

1. A method of electrochemically synthesizing a conductive polypyrrole from a neat pyrrole monomer solution, the method comprising:

subjecting a solution of a neat pyrrole monomer and a dopant to a redox process suitable for polymerization; and

precipitating the resulting conductive polypyrrole.

2. A conductive polypyrrole made in accordance with the method of claim 1.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the redox process is accomplished by cyclic voltammetry.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the redox process is carried out in an electrochemical cell comprising:

said solution of a neat pyrrole monomer and a dopant; and

an electrode system immersed in said solution.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the electrode system comprises:

a working electrode; and

a counter electrode.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the redox process comprises the steps of:

applying a controlled potential to an electrode immersed in said solution; and

polymerizing said pyrrole monomers.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the controlled potential is in a range from about −

1.5 volts to about 1.5 volts.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the precipitation of the conductive polypyrrole occurs on a working electrode.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising the step of:

recovering the conductive polypyrrole from the working electrode.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the redox process is accomplished by galvanic cycles.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the redox process comprises the steps of:

applying a controlled current to an electrode immersed in said solution; and

polymerizing said pyrrole monomers.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the dopant is selected from an electrolyte-dopant of the group consisting of tetra-n-butylammonium perchlorate, tetrabutylammonium hexafluoroborate, potassium nitrate and tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate.

13. The method of claim 5, wherein the working electrode is an indium tin oxide coated glass slide.

14. The method of claim 5, wherein the counter electrode is a platinum mesh.

15. A method of electrochemically synthesizing a conductive polymer from a neat monomer solution, the method comprising:

subjecting a solution of a neat monomer and a dopant to a redox process suitable for polymerization; and

precipitating the resulting conductive polymer.

16. A conductive polymer made in accordance with the method of claim 15.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the redox process is accomplished by cyclic voltammetry.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the redox process is carried out in an electrochemical cell comprising:

said solution of a neat monomer and a dopant; and

an electrode system immersed in said solution.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the electrode system comprises:

a working electrode; and

a counter electrode.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the redox process comprises the steps of:

applying a controlled potential to an electrode immersed in said solution; and

polymerizing said monomers.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the controlled potential is in a range from about −

1.5 volts to about 1.5 volts.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the precipitation of the conductive polymer occurs on a working electrode.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of:

recovering the conductive polymer from the working electrode.

24. The method of claim 15, wherein the redox process is accomplished by galvanic cycles.

25. The method of claim 15, wherein the redox process comprises the steps of:

applying a controlled current to an electrode immersed in said solution; and

polymerizing said monomers.

26. The method of claim 15, wherein the dopant is selected from an electrolyte-dopant of the group consisting of tetra-n-butylammonium perchlorate, tetrabutylammonium hexafluoroborate, potassium nitrate and tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein the working electrode is an indium tin oxide coated glass slide.

28. The method of claim 19, wherein the counter electrode is a platinum mesh.