Conjugated polymer fiber, preparation and use thereof

Abstract

Described are conjugated polymer fibers and nanofibers, methods of making, and methods of use thereof. The conjugated polymer fibers and nanofibers can be prepared by an electrostatic spinning process followed by crosslinking.

1 . A method of preparing a conjugated polymer fiber, comprising:
 electrospinning a solution consisting of a solvent and an intrinsically conductive polymer precursor to form a fiber; and   subsequently, crosslinking the intrinsically conductive polymer precursor by electrochemical solid-state oxidation to form a conjugated polymer fiber.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the conjugated polymer comprises: poly(thiophene); poly(acetylene); poly(ethylenedioxythiophene); poly(propylenedioxythiophene); poly(ethylenedithiathiophene); poly(ethylenedioxypyrrole); poly(propylenedioxypyrrole); poly(isathianaphthene); poly(pyridothiophene); poly(pyrizinothiophene); poly(phenylenevinylene); polycarbazole; poly(thionapthene); poly(benzofuran); poly(dibenzothiophene); poly(dibenzofuran); poly(thienothiophene); poly(thienofuran); poly(thienopyrrole); poly(furanylpyrrole); poly(furanylfuran); poly(pyrolylpyrrole); poly(dithienothiophene); poly(difuranylthiophene); poly(dipyrrolylthiophene); poly(dithienofuran); poly(dipyrrolylfuran); poly(dipyrrolylpyrrole); poly(phenyl acetylene); poly(biindole); poly(dithienovinylene); poly(difuranylvinylene); poly(dipyrrolylvinylene); poly(indole); poly(1,2-trans(ethylenedioxythienyl)vinylene); poly(1,2-trans(ethylenedioxyfuranyl)vinylene); poly(1,2-trans(ethylenedioxypyrrolyl)vinylene); poly(bis-thienylarylene); poly(bis-pyrrolylarylene); poly(bis(ethylenedioxythienyl)arylene); poly(dithienylcyclopentenone); poly(quinoline); poly(thiazole); poly(fluorene); or poly(azulene); wherein the foregoing are optionally substituted with an alkyl, haloalkyl, alkoxy, haloalkoxy, or aryl substituent. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the intrinsically conductive polymer precursor is present in the solution in an amount of about 1 to about 15 weight percent based on the total weight of the solution. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the conjugated polymer fiber is a nanofiber. 
     
     
         5 . A conjugated polymer fiber prepared by the method comprising:
 electrospinning a solution consisting of a solvent and an intrinsically conductive polymer precursor to form a fiber; and   subsequently, crosslinking the intrinsically conductive polymer precursor by electrochemical solid-state oxidation to form a conjugated polymer fiber.   
     
     
         6 . The conjugated polymer fiber of  claim 5 , wherein the fiber comprises a wavelength switching capability between the infrared region, visible region, microwave region, or a combination thereof. 
     
     
         7 . The conjugated polymer fiber of  claim 5 , wherein the conjugated polymer fiber has a diameter of about 1 to about 500 nanometers 
     
     
         8 . A structure comprising the conjugated polymer fiber of  claim 5 , wherein the structure is a mat. 
     
     
         9 . A structure comprising the conjugated polymer fiber of  claim 5 , wherein the structure is a nonwoven mat or a mat comprising aligned conjugated polymer fibers. 
     
     
         10 . The structure of  claim 8 , wherein the conjugated polymer fiber is exposed to solvent vapor to laterally fuse the fibers together. 
     
     
         11 . The structure of  claim 9 , wherein the conjugated polymer fiber is exposed to solvent vapor to laterally fuse the fibers together. 
     
     
         12 . An article prepared by the conjugated polymer fiber of  claim 5 . 
     
     
         13 . The article of  claim 12 , wherein the article is an electrochromic window or display device. 
     
     
         14 . The article of  claim 12 , wherein the article is an electrochromic used in eyewear.