Modulated molecularly bonded inherently conductive polymers on substrates with conjugated multiple lamellae and shaped articles thereof
First Claim
1. A method for imparting a modulated degree of electrical conductivity to an article comprising the steps of:
- molecularly bonding an initial conductive polymer layer to the surface of the article by the steps of;
a) functionalizing the surface of the article to produce a chemically interactive surface having acid-forming functional groups thereon, each of said functional groups having a multivalent central atom; and
b) contacting the functionalized surface with a solution of an oxidatively polymerizable compound, selected from the group consisting of a pyrrole compound, an aniline compound and a thiophene compound, whereby an electrically conductive polymer is formed;
molecularly bonding a second conductive polymer layer to the surface of the initial conductive polymer layer; and
optionally molecularly bonding at least one further conductive polymer layer to the article in order to achieve a desired degree of electrical conductivity;
whereby the steps of molecularly bonding a subsequent conductive polymer layer to an underlying conductive polymer layer comprise the steps ofa) functionalizing the surface of the underlying conductive polymer layer to produce a chemically interactive surface having acid-forming functional groups thereon, each of said functional groups having a multivalent central atom; and
b) contacting the subsequent functionalized surface with a solution of an oxidatively polymerizable compound, selected from the group consisting of a pyrrole compound, an aniline compound and a thiophene compound.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Organic inherently conductive polymers, such as those based on polyaniline, polypyrrole and polythiophene, are sequentially formed in-situ onto polymeric surfaces that are chemically functionalized to molecularly bond the conductive polymers to the substrates. The polymeric substrate is preferably a preshaped or preformed thermoplastic film, fabric, or tube, although other forms of thermoplastic and thermoset polymers can be used as the substrates for functionalization using, most preferably, phosphonylation-based processes followed by exposure to an oxidatively polymerizable compound capable of forming an electrically conductive polymer. It has been found that the degree of electrical conductivity may be modulated by bonding further electrically conductive layers to the article. That is, each underlying conductive layer is functionalized prior to bonding of a subsequent conductive layer thereto until the degree of conductivity is achieved. In an alternative embodiment, metals such as gold or platinum may be bonded to one of the functionalized surfaces.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for imparting a modulated degree of electrical conductivity to an article comprising the steps of:
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molecularly bonding an initial conductive polymer layer to the surface of the article by the steps of; a) functionalizing the surface of the article to produce a chemically interactive surface having acid-forming functional groups thereon, each of said functional groups having a multivalent central atom; and b) contacting the functionalized surface with a solution of an oxidatively polymerizable compound, selected from the group consisting of a pyrrole compound, an aniline compound and a thiophene compound, whereby an electrically conductive polymer is formed; molecularly bonding a second conductive polymer layer to the surface of the initial conductive polymer layer; and optionally molecularly bonding at least one further conductive polymer layer to the article in order to achieve a desired degree of electrical conductivity; whereby the steps of molecularly bonding a subsequent conductive polymer layer to an underlying conductive polymer layer comprise the steps of a) functionalizing the surface of the underlying conductive polymer layer to produce a chemically interactive surface having acid-forming functional groups thereon, each of said functional groups having a multivalent central atom; and b) contacting the subsequent functionalized surface with a solution of an oxidatively polymerizable compound, selected from the group consisting of a pyrrole compound, an aniline compound and a thiophene compound. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for imparting a modulated degree of electrical conductivity to an article comprising the steps of:
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molecularly bonding a layer of a conductive polymer to the surface of the article by the steps of; a) functionalizing the surface of the article to produce a chemically interactive surface having acid-forming functional groups thereon, each of said functional groups having a multivalent central atom; and b) depositing the conductive polymer onto the functionalized surface molecularly bonding a second layer of conductive material to the first layer of conductive polymer; and optionally molecularly bonding at least one further layer of conductive material to the article in order to achieve a desired degree of electrical conductivity; whereby the steps of molecularly bonding a subsequent layer of conductive material to an underlying layer of conductive polymer comprise the steps of a) functionalizing the surface of the underlying conductive polymer layer to produce a chemically interactive surface having acid-forming functional groups thereon, each of said functional groups having a multivalent central atom; and b) depositing a conductive material onto the functionalized surface; such that upon achieving the desired degree of electrical conductivity the article comprises a plurality of conductive layers comprising at least one underlying conductive layer and an outermost conductive layer, wherein each underlying conductive layer comprises a conductive polymer. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. An electrically conductive article comprising:
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a polymeric substrate having acid-forming functional groups covalently bonded thereto; and an initial layer of an electrically conductive polymer, wherein said layer of conductive polymer is molecularly bonded to said acid-forming functional groups at a first outer surface thereof and wherein said initial layer of conductive polymer further comprises acid-forming functional groups covalently bonded to a second outer surface thereof; and a subsequent coherent, uniform layer of an electrically conductive material, wherein said subsequent layer of conductive material is molecularly bonded to said acid-forming functional groups on said second outer surface of said initial layer; wherein the article comprises a plurality of electrically conductivity layers comprising at least one underlying electrically conductive polymer layer and an outermost electrically conductive layer. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification