Electrochemical devices incorporating high-conductivity conjugated polymers

Abstract

The present invention includes the preparation of highly conducting conjugated polymers and their use as electrochemical actuators. A typical electrochemical actuator comprises a highly conducting, conjugated polymer for the anode or the cathode, or for both the anode and the cathode; suitable conjugate polymers have a conductivity ≧100 S/cm. The material may have any form, including films and fibers. A preferred shape is a strip or a fiber, where the fiber can be solid or hollow, although any shape may be used. Before use, the material may be treated, for example, by immersion in an acid, in order to dope/protonate the material or to introduce anions or to exchange the anion in the polymer for another anion. Other materials may be incorporated in the polyaniline to increase its conductivity or to provide other benefits, such as increased strength. Useful conducting polymers include monomers of anilines, pyrroles, thiophenes, phenylene vinylenes, and derivatives thereof.

1 - 5 . (canceled)  
   
   
       6 . An electrochemical actuator comprising a high-conductivity conjugated polymer having an electrical conductivity of >100 S/cm and comprising a homopolymer selected from the group consisting of polyaniline, polypyrrole, polythiophene, and polyphenylenevinylene.  
   
   
       7 . An electrochemical actuator comprising a high-conductivity conjugated polymer having an electrical conductivity of ≧100 S/cm and comprising polyaniline processed using sulfonic acid.  
   
   
       8 . The electrochemical actuator as described in  claim 7 , wherein the sulfonic acid is selected from the group consisting of 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid, camphor sulfonic acid, and di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate-4-sulfonic acid.  
   
   
       9 . The electrochemical actuator as described in  claim 7 , wherein the anion of the sulfonic acid used to process the polyaniline is exchanged for an anion soluble in a chosen organic electrolyte.  
   
   
       10 . The electrochemical actuator as described in  claim 9 , wherein the anion of the sulfonic acid used to process the polyaniline is exchanged for an anion selected from the group consisting of ClO 4 , ClO 3 , CF 3 COO, trifluoromethanesulfonate, bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, Br, I, I 3 , carboxylic acid, PF 6 , AsF 6 , BF 4 , alkyl sulfonates, sulfonamides, methides, and SbF 6 .  
   
   
       11 . The electrochemical actuator as described in  claim 7 , wherein the sulfonic acid is selected from the group consisting of 2-acrylamidopropanesulfonic acid, 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, 2-methacrylamido-2-methylpropanesulfonic acid, 2-acrylamidobutanesulfonic acid, 3-acrylamidobutane-2-sulfonic acid, 3-acrylamido-2,3-dimethylbutane-2-sulfonic acid, 2-acrylamido-2, 4, 4-trimethylpentanesulfonic acid, 2-acrylamido-2-phenylethanesulfonic acid, 2-acrylamido-2-phenylpropanesulfonic acid, 2-acrylamido-2-tolylethane sulfonic acid, 2-acrylamido-2-pyridylethane sulfonic acid, [3-[(1,1-dimethyl-hydroxyethyl)amino]-2-hydroxypropanesulfonic acid], [3-(cyclohexylamino)-2-hydroxy-1-propanesulfonic acid, 3-[N,N-bis(hydroxyethyl)amino]-2-hydroxypropanesulfonic acid, [N-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazine-N′-2-hydroxy propanesulfonic acid], 3-(N-morpholino)-2-hydroxypropanesulfonicsulfonic acid, piperazine-N,N′-bis(2-hydroxypropanesulfonic acid), and 3-[N-tris-(hydroxymethyl)methyl amino]-2-hydroxypropanesulfonic acid.  
   
   
       12 . An electrochemical actuator comprising a high-conductivity conjugated polymer having an electrical conductivity of ≧100 S/cm, wherein the high-conductivity conjugated polymer is formed into a fiber.  
   
   
       13 . An electrochemical actuator comprising a high-conductivity conjugated polymer having an electrical conductivity of ≧100 S/cm, wherein the high-conductivity conjugated polymer is formed into a film.  
   
   
       14 . A method for maintaining the high conductivity of a high-conductivity conjugated polymer for use in an organic electrolyte which comprises the step of exchanging the anion associated with the high-conductivity conjugated polymer with an anion which is soluble in the organic electrolyte.  
   
   
       15 . The method for maintaining the high conductivity of a high-conductivity conjugated polymer for use in an organic electrolyte as described in  claim 14 , wherein the anion associated with the high-conductivity conjugated polymer is exchanged for an anion selected from the group consisting of ClO 4 , ClO 3 , CF 3 COO, trifluoromethanesulfonate, bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, Br, I, I 3 , carboxylic acid, PF 6 , AsF 6 , BF 4 , alkyl sulfonates, sulfonamides, methides, and SbF 6 .