Showing papers on "Conductive polymer published in 2009"

A metal-free polymeric photocatalyst for hydrogen production from water under visible light

Abstract: The production of hydrogen from water using a catalyst and solar energy is an ideal future energy source, independent of fossil reserves. For an economical use of water and solar energy, catalysts that are sufficiently efficient, stable, inexpensive and capable of harvesting light are required. Here, we show that an abundant material, polymeric carbon nitride, can produce hydrogen from water under visible-light irradiation in the presence of a sacrificial donor. Contrary to other conducting polymer semiconductors, carbon nitride is chemically and thermally stable and does not rely on complicated device manufacturing. The results represent an important first step towards photosynthesis in general where artificial conjugated polymer semiconductors can be used as energy transducers.

Polyaniline nanofibers: a unique polymer nanostructure for versatile applications.

Abstract: Known for more than 150 years, polyaniline is the oldest and potentially one of the most useful conducting polymers because of its facile synthesis, environmental stability, and simple acid/base doping/dedoping chemistry. Because a nanoform of this polymer could offer new properties or enhanced performance, nanostructured polyaniline has attracted a great deal of interest during the past few years. This Account summarizes our recent research on the syntheses, processing, properties, and applications of polyaniline nanofibers. By monitoring the nucleation behavior of polyaniline, we demonstrate that high-quality nanofibers can be readily produced in bulk quantity using the conventional chemical oxidative polymerization of aniline. The polyaniline nanostructures formed using this simple method have led to a number of exciting discoveries. For example, we can readily prepare aqueous polyaniline colloids by purifying polyaniline nanofibers and controlling the pH. The colloids formed are self-stabilized via el...

Conducting polymer nanomaterials: electrosynthesis and applications

Abstract: Conducting polymers (CPs) have been extensively studied and widely applied in various organic devices. To improve the performances or extend the functions of the devices, CPs usually have to be nanostructured. Electrosynthesis provides an effective and convenient one-step approach to CP nanomaterials. The resulting materials are usually oriented on the electrode surfaces and their properties are easy to be controlled. This critical review focuses on the syntheses of CP nanostructures and nanocomposites by electrochemical polymerization. The applications of the nanomaterials in organic devices such as sensors, actuators and memory devices also will be discussed (111 references).

Recent progress in the development of nano-structured conducting polymers/nanocomposites for sensor applications

Abstract: Nanomaterials of conjugated polymers are found to have superior performance relative to conventional materials due to their much larger exposed surface area. The present paper gives an overview of various recent synthetic approaches involving template free and template oriented techniques suitable for the growth of nanomaterials of conjugated polymers, their merits and application in making nanodevices. The characteristics of nano-structured conducting polymers and polymer nanocomposites, their application in sensors/biosensors and advances made in this field are reviewed.

Ultrafast All-Polymer Paper-Based Batteries

Abstract: Conducting polymers for battery applications have been subject to numerous investigations during the last two decades. However, the functional charging rates and the cycling stabilities have so far been found to be insufficient for practical applications. These shortcomings can, at least partially, be explained by the fact that thick layers of the conducting polymers have been used to obtain sufficient capacities of the batteries. In the present letter, we introduce a novel nanostructured high-surface area electrode material for energy storage applications composed of cellulose fibers of algal origin individually coated with a 50 nm thin layer of polypyrrole. Our results show the hitherto highest reported charge capacities and charging rates for an all polymer paper-based battery. The composite conductive paper material is shown to have a specific surface area of 80 m(2) g(-1) and batteries based on this material can be charged with currents as high as 600 mA cm(-2) with only 6% loss in capacity over 100 subsequent charge and discharge cycles. The aqueous-based batteries, which are entirely based on cellulose and polypyrrole and exhibit charge capacities between 25 and 33 mAh g(-1) or 38-50 mAh g(-1) per weight of the active material, open up new possibilities for the production of environmentally friendly, cost efficient, up-scalable and lightweight energy storage systems.

Role of tungsten oxide in inverted polymer solar cells

Abstract: Tungsten oxide (WO3) was inserted as an anode interfacial layer between the photoactive layer and top electrode in inverted polymer solar cells (PSCs) with nanocrystalline titanium dioxide as an electron selective layer. The device with WO3 exhibited a remarkable improvement in power conversion efficiency compared with that without WO3, which indicated that WO3 efficiently prevented the recombination of charge carriers at the organic/top electrode interface. The dependence of the device performances on WO3 film thickness and different top metal electrodes was investigated. Transparent inverted PSCs with thermally evaporable Ag/WO3 as a transparent anode were also investigated when introducing a WO3 buffer layer.

Electrorheology of polymers and nanocomposites

Abstract: This highlight aims to report electrorheological (ER) materials in state-of-the art polymeric particles and their various nanocomposites with clay, mesoporous inorganics and carbon nanotubes along with their potential application. ER fluids, suspensions of these particles having higher dielectric constant or electrical conductivity than the low-viscosity fluids in which they are suspended, are currently regarded as a smart/intelligent material, because their structural and rheological properties can be systematically tuned by controlling electric field strengths. In this highlight, various conducting polymers, including polyaniline, polypyrrole, poly(p-phenylene), poly(naphthalene quinone) and copolyaniline, are introduced and different types of polymer nanocomposites are emphasized. Flow curves for shear stress of the ER fluids are also examined.

Conductive Electroactive Polymers: Intelligent Polymer Systems

Abstract: Rapid advances in synthetic polymer science and nanotechnology have revealed new avenues of development in conductive electroactive polymers that take greater advantage of this versatile class of materials' unique properties. This third edition of Conductive Electroactive Polymers: Intelligent Polymer Systems continues to provide an in-depth understanding of how to engineer dynamic properties in inherently conducting polymers from the molecular level. New to the third edition: * Biomedical, MEMS, and electronic textile applications * The synthesis and fabrication of nanocomponents and nanostructures * The energy role of nanotechnology in improving the performance of conducting materials in devices * Electrochemical Raman, electrochemical ESR, and scanning vibrating reference electrode studies After establishing the basic principles of polymer chemistry, the book pinpoints the dynamic properties of the more useful conducting polymers, such as polupyrroles, polythiophenes, and polyanilines. It then demonstrates how the control of these properties enables cutting-edge applications in nano, biomedicine, and MEMS as well as sensors and artificial muscles. Subsequent chapters discuss the effect of nanodimensional control on the resultant properties. Updated to reflect substantial developments and advances that have occurred in the past few years, this third edition of Conductive Electroactive Polymers unlocks a world of potential for integrating and interfacing conductive polymers.

Transparent, Flexible, and Highly Conductive Thin Films Based on Polymer−Nanotube Composites

Abstract: We have prepared flexible, transparent, and very conducting thin composite films from poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate), filled with both arc discharge and HIPCO single-walled nanotubes, at high loading level. The films are of high optical uniformity. The arc discharge nanotube-filled composites were significantly more conductive, demonstrating DC conductivities of >10(5) S/m for mass fractions >50 wt %. The ratio of DC to optical conductivity was higher for composites with mass fractions of 55-60 wt % than for nanotube-only films. For an 80 nm thick composite, filled with 60 wt % arc discharge nanotubes, this conductivity ratio was maximized at sigma(DC)/sigma(Op) = 15. This translates into transmittance (550 nm) and sheet resistance of 75 and 80 Omega/square, respectively. These composites were electromechanically very stable, showing <1% resistance change over 130 bend cycles.

Polymer supports for low-temperature fuel cell catalysts

Abstract: Due to their high accessible surface area, low resistance and high stability, conducting polymers have been investigated as carbon-substitute supports for fuel cell catalysts The main reason for incorporating metallic particles into porous polymeric matrixes is to increase the specific area of these materials and thereby improve the catalytic efficiency Polymer-supported metal particles also present higher tolerance to poisoning due to the adsorption of CO species, in comparison to the serious problem of poisoning of bulk and carbon-supported metals Moreover, conducting polymers are not only electron conducting, but also proton conducting materials, so they can replace Nafion in the catalyst layer of fuel cell electrodes and provide enhanced performance This paper provides a review of the state-of-the-art in the development of metal/polymer composites as electrode materials for low-temperature fuel cells

Studies on tin oxide-intercalated polyaniline nanocomposite for ammonia gas sensing applications

Abstract: Thin films of tin oxide-intercalated polyaniline nanocomposite have been deposited at room temperature, through solution route technique. The as-grown films were studied for some of the useful physicochemical properties, making use of XRD, FTIR, SEM, etc. and optical methods. XRD studies showed peak broadening and the peak positions shift from standard values, indicating presence of tin oxide in nanoparticles form in the polyaniline (PANI) matrix. FTIR study shows presence of the Sn–O–Sn vibrational peak and characteristic vibrational peaks of PANI. Study of SEM micrograph revealed that the composite particles have irregular shape and size with micellar templates of PANI around them. AFM images show topographical features of the nanocomposite similar to SEM images but at higher resolution. Optical absorbance studies show shifting of the characteristics peaks for PANI, which may be due to presence of tin oxide in PANI matrix. On exposure to ammonia gas (100–500 ppm in air) at room temperature, it was found that the PANI film resistance increases, while that of the nanocomposite (PANI + SnO2) film decreases from the respective unexposed value. These changes on removal of ammonia gas are reversible in nature, and the composite films showed good sensitivity with relatively faster response/recovery time. © 2009 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

Salt-Induced Charge Screening and Significant Conductivity Enhancement of Conducting Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):Poly(styrenesulfonate)

Abstract: This article reports a novel method to significantly enhance the conductivity of conducting poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) films through a treatment with aqueous solutions of various salts, such as copper(II) chloride. Conductivity enhancement by a factor of about 700 was observed. Many salts were investigated, and the conductivity enhancement depended on the softness parameter of cations and the concentration of the salts in solution. A salt like copper(II) chloride or indium chloride, whose cation has positive softness parameter, could enhance the conductivity of the PEDOT:PSS film by 2 orders in magnitude, while other salt like sodium chloride or magnesium chloride, whose cation has negative softness parameter, gave rise to negligible effect on the conductivity. The mechanism for the conductivity enhancement was studied by various characterizations. It is attributed to PSS loss from the PEDOT:PSS film, and conformational change of PEDOT chains resulted from the salt...

The effect of molybdenum oxide interlayer on organic photovoltaic cells

Abstract: Both small molecule and polymer photovoltaic cells were fabricated with molybdenum oxide interlayer at the indium tin oxide electrode. Enhancement in power efficiencies was observed in both small molecule and polymer cells. Specifically, the power conversion efficiencies of small molecule cells with the molybdenum oxide interlayer were enhanced by a maximum of 38% due to a significant enhancement in the fill factor. The improved fill factor is attributed to the reduction in series resistance. Our ultraviolet photoemission spectroscopy data indicate that the formation of band bending and the built-in field at the interface due to the interlayer leads to enhancement in hole extraction from the photoactive layer toward the anode.

Synthesis of Conducting Polymer Supported Pd Nanoparticles in Aqueous Medium and Catalytic Activity Towards 4-Nitrophenol Reduction

Abstract: We report here the synthesis of palladium (Pd) nanoparticles incorporated poly-(3,4)ethylenedioxythiophene (PEDOT) matrix in aqueous medium and its catalytic performance towards 4-nitrophenol reduction. This simple one-pot synthesis involving a redox reaction between 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene and palladium chloride (PdCl2) precursor, leads to the formation of Pd nanoparticles supported on particulate PEDOT. Pd nanoparticles of size 1–9 nm were found to distribute uniformly over the PEDOT matrix. Morphology of the Pd–PEDOT nanocomposite was characterized by field emission-scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy and the crystallographic details obtained using X-ray diffraction. The chemical nature of the PEDOT support matrix was analyzed using Fourier transform-infra red (FT-IR) spectroscopy. The catalytic activity of the composite was demonstrated using a model reaction, i.e., reduction of 4-nitrophenol to 4-aminophenol. The value of the apparent rate constant, ca. 65.8 × 10−3 s−1 obtained using UV visible spectroscopy of the reduction of 4-nitrophenol at the Pd–PEDOT nanocomposite is comparable to those reported for other catalytic systems.

Molecular design of conductive polymers to modulate superoleophobic properties.

Abstract: Natural surfaces can be superhydrophobic, but on the other hand, superoleophobic properties are extremely rare We demonstrate that modification of the 3,4-alkylenedioxy bridge length in pyrrole-derivative monomers can have a dramatic influence on the superoleophobic properties of electrodeposited conductive polymers Here we report the synthesis and characterization of novel fluorinated 3,4-ethylenedioxypyrrole (EDOP) and 3,4-propylenedioxypyrrole (ProDOP) monomers and their corresponding electrodeposited polymers The polymer surfaces were characterized by static and dynamic contact angle measurements, scanning electron microscopy, and cyclic voltammetry Surprisingly, the antiwetting properties do not depend of the fluorocarbon chain length (F-octyl to F-hexyl) but are in fact governed by the nature of the electrochemically deposited core Indeed, superhydrophobic and superoleophobic surfaces with extremely low hysteresis and sliding angles for water droplets were obtained by electrochemical polymeriza

Orthogonal Patterning of PEDOT:PSS for Organic Electronics using Hydrofluoroether Solvents

Abstract: 2009 WILEY-VCH Verlag Gmb Organic electronics is an emerging technology opening new opportunities in the field of large-area electronics. It has received enormous attention as a technology platform that enables flexible, large-scale devices by exploiting the unique properties of organic materials. In addition, organic electronics offer the possibility of affordable manufacture of devices through solution processing of active materials. Before this vision is realized, several challenges must be overcome, in particular the issues of patterning. Patterning of electronic materials enables microscale device structures to be defined for organic light-emitting diode (OLED) displays and organic thin-film transistors (OTFTs). In addition, patterning enhances the device performance by preventing cross-talk, increases transconductance, and prevents high off-currents in transistor arrays or drivers. The patterning of organic materials has been demonstrated by many different methods, including ink-jet printing, vapor deposition through shadow masks, soft and hard imprint lithography, and photolithography. Ink-jet printing boasts continuous roll-to-roll process capabilities and is the patterning technique of choice for polymeric materials. However, the resolution is limited to approximately 10–20mm. Shadow mask deposition is the dominant technique for small-molecule patterning, but also has notable resolution limitations. A shadow mask feature resolution is typically 25–30mm, although special masks have shown resolution down to 5mm. Shadow-mask deposition also requires a high-vacuum environment, which can introduce further limitations. Imprint lithography has demonstrated promising results, showing feature resolution down to 10 nm. However, this technique has shown only limited applicability with respect to materials and device architectures. Furthermore, in all of the aforementioned methods, registration is an issue that renders fabrication of multilayer devices exceptionally challenging. Multilayered device architecture will be essential to achieve fully integrated circuits. Photolithography, in contrast, is a widely applicable patterning method that consistently achieves both high-resolution and registration. Photolithography has the added advantage of being the most developed patterning technology and the patterning method of choice for the current semiconductor industry. In spite of the proven technical advantages, conventional photolithography has not been recognized as a suitable technique for patterning organic electronic materials. It is presently hindered by concerns of chemical deterioration of active organic materials upon exposure to process solvents for lithography. By introducing a new set of benign processes that involve new specially tailored photopolymers, we show that this problem can be circumvented. Recently, we identified hydrofluoroethers (HFEs), a family of nontoxic and environmentally friendly solvents, as being chemically benign to nonfluorinated organic electronic materials. Not only are they benign, but HFEs are orthogonal solvents to many organic compounds, that is, the organic compounds are insoluble and are not swollen in HFEs. This is a particularly useful property in the fabrication of multilevel devices, since new layers can be added without damage to existing ones. Our challenge was, therefore, to develop compatible lithographic materials for these new process solvents. By employing a fluorinated photoresist compatible with HFEs, we demonstrate sub-micrometer photolithographic patterning of organic electronic materials. Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrene sulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS) is a mechanically flexible, transparent, and highly conductive polymer blend, which has found various applications in organic electronics including serving as the electrode material for plastic substrates, because of its low-temperature processing requirements, and as charge-injection/-extraction layers in OLEDs and photovoltaic devices. However, photolithographic patterning of PEDOT:PSS for device components is not straightforward, because i) PEDOT:PSS films are damaged by aqueous solutions, which are standard developers in conventional photolithography, and ii) acid-sensitive photoresists are adversely affected by the acidic PEDOT:PSS. In this communication,wepresent a unique acid-stable imaging material for PEDOT:PSS and organic electronic materials in general. We report on the sub-micrometer patterning of PEDOT:PSS films and their subsequent application to the fabrication of a field-effect transistor, in which an organic semiconductor material, pentacene, is patterned by the same protocol. In designing a HFE-compatible photoresist, it was most important that the photoresist be soluble in fluorous solvents. In general, fluorous solvents dissolve highly fluorinated materials. The copolymer 3, derived from the highly fluorinated monomer 1 and photolabile monomer 2, was expected to yield a material that exhibits a solubility switch following UV irradiation

Polyaniline nanowires-gold nanoparticles hybrid network based chemiresistive hydrogen sulfide sensor

Abstract: We report a sensitive, selective, and fast responding room temperature chemiresistive sensor for hydrogen sulfide detection and quantification using polyaniline nanowires-gold nanoparticles hybrid network. The sensor was fabricated by facile electrochemical technique. Initially, polyaniline nanowires with a diameter of 250–320 nm bridging the gap between a pair of microfabricated gold electrodes were synthesized using templateless electrochemical polymerization using a two step galvanostatic technique. Polyaniline nanowires were then electrochemically functionalized with gold nanoparticles using cyclic voltammetry technique. These chemiresistive sensors show an excellent limit of detection (0.1 ppb), wide dynamic range (0.1–100 ppb), and very good selectivity and reproducibility.

Oxide contacts in organic photovoltaics: characterization and control of near-surface composition in indium-tin oxide (ITO) electrodes.

Abstract: The recent improvements in the power conversion efficiencies of organic photovoltaic devices (OPVs) promise to make these technologies increasingly attractive alternatives to more established photovoltaic technologies. OPVs typically consist of photoactive layers 20-100 nm thick sandwiched between both transparent oxide and metallic electrical contacts. Ideal OPVs rely on ohmic top and bottom contacts to harvest photogenerated charges without compromising the power conversion efficiency of the OPV. Unfortunately, the electrical contact materials (metals and metal oxides) and the active organic layers in OPVs are often incompatible and may be poorly optimized for harvesting photogenerated charges. Therefore, further optimization of the chemical and physical stabilities of these metal oxide materials with organic materials will be an essential component of the development of OPV technologies. The energetic and kinetic barriers to charge injection/collection must be minimized to maximize OPV power conversion efficiencies. In this Account, we review recent studies of one of the most common transparent conducting oxides (TCOs), indium-tin oxide (ITO), which is the transparent bottom contact in many OPV technologies. These studies of the surface chemistry and surface modification of ITO are also applicable to other TCO materials. Clean, freshly deposited ITO is intrinsically reactive toward H(2)O, CO, CO(2), etc. and is often chemically and electrically heterogeneous in the near-surface region. Conductive-tip atomic force microscopy (C-AFM) studies reveal significant spatial variability in electrical properties. We describe the use of acid activation, small-molecule chemisorption, and electrodeposition of conducting polymer films to tune the surface free energy, the effective work function, and electrochemical reactivity of ITO surfaces. Certain electrodeposited poly(thiophenes) show their own photovoltaic activity or can be used as electronically tunable substrates for other photoactive layers. For certain photoactive donor layers (phthalocyanines), we have used the polarity of the oxide surface to accelerate dewetting and "nanotexturing" of the donor layer to enhance OPV performance. These complex surface chemistries will make oxide/organic interfaces one of the key focal points for research in new OPV technologies.