Novel applications for alliform carbon

Abstract

This invention relates to novel applications for alliform carbon, useful in conductors and energy storage devices, including electrical double layer capacitor devices and articles incorporating such conductors and devices. Said novel applications include supercapacitors and associated electrode devices, batteries, bandages and wound healing, and thin-film devices, including display devices.

What is claimed: 
     
         1 . A carbon electrode comprising alliform carbon particles in the range of 2 to about 25 percent by weight, relative to the weight of the entire electrode; wherein the alliform carbon particles have a substantially unimodal size distribution and have a mean diameter in the range of 2 nm to 5 nm and a mean specific area in a range of from about 250 to about 750 m 2  g −1 . 
     
     
         2 . The electrode of  claim 1 , wherein the carbon electrode further comprises activated carbon. 
     
     
         3 . A battery, fuel cell, or electrical double layer capacitor containing an electrode of  claim 1 . 
     
     
         4 . A paint or glue comprising alliform carbon particles present in the range of about 2 to about 50 weight percent, relative to the weight of the entire composition and further comprising a polymer comprising a benzoxazine, bismaleimide, epoxy, fluorinated or perfluorinated polymer, melamine resin, polyalkylene, polyamide, polyamide-imide, polyaryletherketone, polyether etherketone, polyester, polyethylenenimine, polyethersulfone, poly (p-phenylene sulfide), polyimide, polyurethane, polyvinyl chloride, vinyl ester, or a copolymer thereof, or mixture thereof. 
     
     
         5 . A current collector coated with a composition comprising the paint or glue of  claim 4 . 
     
     
         6 . A polymer composition comprising alliform carbon particles in the range of about 2 to about 80 weight percent, relative to the weight of the total composition, wherein the polymer composition comprises (a) an electrically conductive or semi-conductive polymer; or (b) an ionomer. 
     
     
         7 . The polymer composition of  claim 6  wherein the polymer composition comprises an electrically conductive or semi-conductive polymer, the electrically conductive or semi-conductive polymer comprising poly(fluorene), polypyrene, polyazulene, polynaphthalene, poly(pyrrole), polycarbazole, polyindole, polyazepine, polyaniline, polyquinoline, poly(thiophene), poly(p-phenylene sulfide), poly(acetylene), poly(polyphenylene vinylene), or a mixture thereof, or a copolymer thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The polymer composition of  claim 6 , wherein the polymer composition comprises an ionomer, the ionomer comprising methacrylic or acrylic acid, urethane, butadiene-styrene-acrylic acid terpolymer ionomers, perfluorinated polymers, sulfonated polyphenylene oxide, phosphonated polyphenylene oxide, polysulfone, polyethersulfone, polybenzimidazole, polyimide, polystyrene, polyethylene, polytrifluorostyrene, polyetheretherketone, liquid crystal polymer; or a mixture thereof, or a copolymer thereof. 
     
     
         9 . A device comprising a layer comprising alliform carbon, superposed on a substrate, wherein the layer comprising alliform carbon is capable of acting as a conductor, an electrode, or an energy storage device; said layer having a thickness in a range of from:
 (a) 10 to 2500 nm;   (b) 20 nm to 500 nm;   (c) 20 nm to 200 nm; or   (d) 20 nm to 100 nm.   
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the layer of alliform carbon is transparent to electromagnetic radiation. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the layer of alliform carbon is transparent to infrared, visible, or ultraviolet light. 
     
     
         12 . The device of  claim 9 , wherein the layer of alliform carbon is organized into a pattern. 
     
     
         13 . An electro-optic device, a laser, waveguide, electrochromic mirror, or photovoltaic cell containing a device of  claim 9 . 
     
     
         14 . The electro-optic device of  claim 13 , wherein the electro-optic device is further characterized as an organic light emitting diode, a liquid crystal display, an electrophoretic display, an electroluminescent display, or an electrochromic display. 
     
     
         15 . A filament, fiber, or yarn comprising at least one deposited layer of alliform carbon. 
     
     
         16 . The filament, fiber, or yarn of  claim 15  comprising at least four layers of alliform carbon. 
     
     
         17 . A woven or non-woven fabric, at least a portion of which comprises at least two deposited layers of alliform carbon. 
     
     
         18 . The fabric of  claim 17  prepared from a filament, fiber, or yarn of  claim 16 . 
     
     
         19 . The fabric of  claim 17 , wherein the fabric is woven. 
     
     
         20 . The fabric of  claim 17 , wherein the layer comprising alliform carbon is capable of acting as a conductor, an electrode, or an energy storage device. 
     
     
         21 . A fabric of  claim 20 , wherein the alliform carbon is present in sufficient amounts to capture, store, and later release the energy associated with static electricity. 
     
     
         22 . A garment apparatus containing a fabric of  claim 17 , wherein the at least two deposited layers of alliform carbon:
 (a) provides partial or complete electromagnetic shielding to the surfaces covered by the garment;   (b) is part of a wireless antenna system;   (c) provides for the capture, storage, and later release of energy associated with the movement of the wearer; or   (d) provides for the capture, storage, and later release of energy associated with the movement of the wearer, wherein the energy associated with the movement of the wearer is transformed to electrical energy by a piezoelectric device.