Electrically conductive synthetic fiber and fibrous substrate, method of making, and use thereof

• US 9,644,313 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2014
• Issued: 05/09/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/02/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: University of Connecticut (State of Connecticut)
• Original Assignee: University of Connecticut (State of Connecticut)
• Inventors: Sotzing, Gregory A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Ahmed, Sheeba
• Application Number:
  US14/317,043
• Publication Number:
  US 20150017421A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,047 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2264/102 Oxide or hydroxide
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 2307/202 Conductive
• CPC Class Codes: B32B 27/12 next to a fibrous or filamentary layer
• CPC Class Codes: D01D 5/0007 Electro-spinning non-woven fabrics produced by electro-spinning D04H1/728
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 1/10 Other agents for modifying properties
• CPC Class Codes: D01F 6/62 from polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 15/19 with synthetic macromolecular compounds with synthetic rubber D06M15/693
• CPC Class Codes: D06M 2101/32 Polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: D06N 2205/10 Particulate form, e.g. powder, granule
• CPC Class Codes: D06N 2205/103 Nanoparticles
• CPC Class Codes: D06N 2209/041 Conductive
• CPC Class Codes: D06N 2209/126 Permeability to liquids, absorption
• CPC Class Codes: D06N 2211/28 Artificial leather
• CPC Class Codes: D06N 3/0036 Polyester fibres for elastomeric fibres D06N3/0025
• CPC Class Codes: D06N 3/04 with macromolecular compounds obtained by reactions only involving carbon-to-carbon unsaturated bonds
• CPC Class Codes: D06N 3/123 with polyesters
• CPC Class Codes: G02F 1/155 Electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 1/127 comprising five-membered aromatic rings in the main chain, e.g. polypyrroles, polythiophenes
• CPC Class Codes: H01B 1/128 comprising six-membered aromatic rings in the main chain, e.g. polyanilines, polyphenylenes
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/25 Web or sheet containing structurally defined element or component and including a second component containing structurally defined particles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/265 : 1 mil or less
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2927 : including structurally defined particulate matter
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2949 : Glass, ceramic or metal oxide in coating
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/2969 : Polyamide, polyimide or polyester
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 428/31786 : Of polyester [e.g., alkyd, etc.]

Abstract

Electrically conductive synthetic fiber and fibrous substrate (e.g. synthetic leather) are disclosed. The electrically conductive polymeric fiber and polymeric fibrous substrate are made electrically conductive by the use of an electrically conductive polymer disposed on the fibers and in contact with inorganic desiccant particles located at the surface of the fibers. The new material finds utility as an electrode for devices and as a resistive heating element, and as a pathway to efficient thermoelectrics.

Claims

1. An electrically conductive fibrous substrate, comprising:

a fibrous substrate comprising polymeric fibers comprising desiccant particles wherein a portion of the desiccant particles are located at the surface of the polymeric fiber; and

an electrically conductive polymer film disposed on at least a portion of the polymeric fibers of the fibrous substrate and at least in partial contact with the desiccant particles.

3. The electrically conductive fibrous substrate of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive fibrous substrate is an electrically conductive synthetic leather.

4. The electrically conductive fibrous substrate of claim 1, wherein the desiccant particles are SiO₂, TiO₂, aluminum oxide, calcium oxide, or a combination thereof.

6. The electrically conductive fibrous substrate of claim 1, wherein the desiccant particles have a particle size of about 1 nanometer to about 5 micrometers.

8. The electrically conductive fibrous substrate of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive polymer is PEDOT:

PSS, a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), a substituted poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), poly(thiophene), a substituted poly(thiophene), poly(pyrrole), a substituted poly(pyrrole), poly(aniline), a substituted poly(aniline), poly(acetylene), poly(p-phenylenevinylene) (PPV), a poly(indole), a substituted poly(indole), a poly(carbazole), a substituted poly(carbazole), a poly(azepine), a (poly)thieno[3,4-b]thiophene, a substituted poly(thieno[3,4-b]thiophene), a poly(dithieno[3,4-b;

3′

,4′

-d]thiophene), a poly(thieno[3,4-b]furan), a substituted poly(thieno[3,4-b]furan), a derivative thereof.

10. The electrically conductive fibrous substrate of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive polymer is PEDOT:

PSS present in an amount of about 0.1 to about 10.0 wt % based on the weight of the substrate.

11. The electrically conductive fibrous substrate of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive polymer film coating has an average thickness of 250 nm or less.

12. The electrically conductive fiber of claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive polymer film coating has an average thickness of 300 nm or less.

13. The electrically conductive fibrous substrate of claim 1, wherein the polymeric fiber is nylon 6, nylon 66, nylon 610, nylon 12, co-polymerized nylon, polyethylene terephthalate, polytrimethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polypropylene terephthalate, polyurethane, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyurethane-polyurea copolymer, polyester-based polyurethane, copolymers thereof, or a combination thereof.

15. The electrically conductive fibrous substrate of claim 1, which exhibits sheet resistances ranging from 0.4 to 400 ohms/square.

16. The electrically conductive fibrous substrate of claim 1, which exhibits metallic behavior at temperatures above 0°

C.

17. The electrically conductive fibrous substrate of claim 1, used as an electrode, a resistive heating element, or thermoelectric.

18. The electrically conductive fiber of claim 1, used as an electrode, a resistive heating element, or thermoelectric.

19. A method of making the electrically conductive fibrous substrate of claim 1, comprising disposing an electrically conductive polymer onto the fibrous substrate;

optionally surface treating the fibrous substrate prior to the disposing step, wherein the surface treating is a plasma treatment, a solvent treatment, or a combination thereof.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the electrically conductive polymer is drop cast, spray coated, ink jet coated, dip coated, spin coated, gravure coated, extrusion coated onto the fibrous substrate, or the fibrous substrate is soaked in a mixture of electrically conductive polymer and solvent.

2. An electrically conductive fiber, comprising:

a polymeric fiber comprising desiccant particles wherein a portion of the desiccant particles are located at the surface of the polymeric fiber; and

an electrically conductive polymer film disposed on at least a portion of the polymeric fiber and at least in partial contact with the desiccant particles.

5. The electrically conductive fiber of claim 2, wherein the desiccant particles are SiO₂, TiO₂, aluminum oxide, calcium oxide, or a combination thereof.

7. The electrically conductive fiber of claim 2, wherein the desiccant particles have a particle size of about 1 nanometer to about 5 micrometers.

9. The electrically conductive fiber of claim 2, wherein the electrically conductive polymer is PEDOT:

PSS, a poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), a substituted poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene), poly(thiophene), a substituted poly(thiophene), poly(pyrrole), a substituted poly(pyrrole), poly(aniline), a substituted poly(aniline), poly(acetylene), poly(p-phenylenevinylene) (PPV), a poly(indole), a substituted poly(indole), a poly(carbazole), a substituted poly(carbazole), a poly(azepine), a (poly)thieno[3,4-b]thiophene, a substituted poly(thieno[3,4-b]thiophene), a poly(dithieno[3,4-b;

3′

,4′

-d]thiophene), a poly(thieno[3,4-b]furan), a substituted poly(thieno[3,4-b]furan), a derivative thereof.

14. The electrically conductive fiber of claim 2, wherein the polymeric fiber is nylon 6, nylon 66, nylon 12, co-polymerized nylon, polyethylene terephthalate, polybutylene terephthalate, polypropylene terephthalate, polyurethane, polypropylene, polyethylene, polyurethane-polyurea copolymer, copolymers thereof, or a combination thereof.