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Gte Laboratories Incorporated

Mrinal Thakur

Sukant K Tripathy

Daniel J Sandman

Boris S Elman

Robert J Seymour

Nonconjugated conductive polymers absorb radioactive iodine, therefore are useful for protection against nuclear radiation. These polymers have at least one double bond per repeat unit. The ratio of the number of double bonds to the total number of bonds along the polymer chain is less than half. Examples of nonconjugated conductive polymers include: cis-1,4-polyisoprene (natural rubber), trans-1,4-polyisoprene (gutta percha), polybutadiene, polydimethyl butadiene, poly(b-pinene), styrene butadiene rubber (SBR), polyalloocimene, polynorbornene and many others. Through interaction with iodine atoms the double bonds in the nonconjugated polymers transform into radical cations leading to a dark color. The iodine atoms remain (immobile) bound to the polymer chain through the charge-transfer interaction, these polymers are very inexpensive and can be easily processed into any shape, structure and size. Therefore, these are useful for protection against nuclear radiation including radioactive iodine. These polymers when used as a thick cover can provide safe storage of nuclear waste materials including spent fuel rods.

Nonconjugated conductive polymers for protection against nuclear radiation including radioactive iodine

A photovoltaic structure having an electrode of a glass substrate coated with a high work function metal to which a film of a combination of a non-conjugated conductive polymer and an electron acceptor such as fullerene, carbon, iodine, or potassium iodide is applied. The structure has a second electrode of a low work function metal that has been coated on the glass substrate. This glass substrate with the low work function metal is applied to the film. Among the non-conjugated polymers are polyisoprene, poly(&#x3b2;-pinene), cis-polyisoprene, styrene-butadiene-rubber copolymer, polynobornene and polyalloocimene. When light strikes this photovoltaic structure it is capable of generating electric voltage greater than 100 mV for a light intensity of about 5 mW/cm.

Photovoltaic applications of non-conjugated conductive polymers

Nonconjugated conductive polymers have a ratio of double bonds to total bonds of less than &#xbd; are used to produce compositions with unexpected non-linear optical characteristics in this invention. Large third order optical effects including quadratic electro-optic effect and two-photon absorption have been measured in nonconjugated conductive polymers after doping the polymers. Among the nonconjugated polymers are styrene-butadiene-rubber copolymer (SBR), poly(&#x3b2;-pinene), poly(ethylene-pyrrolediyl) derivative, polynorbornene, cis-1,4 polyisoprene and trans-1,4 polyisoprene. The enhancement of the non-linear optical effect is due to the special charge-transfer complex structure and formation of nano-optical domains. Among the doping materials are electron acceptors such as iodine and antimony pentachloride.

Nonlinear optical applications of nonconjugated conductive polymers

Nonconjugated conductive polymers, which are all polymers that have a ratio of double bonds to total bonds of less than &#xbd; are doped with iodine to produce compositions with unexpected characteristics in this invention. The mechanical and elastomeric properties of a nonconjugated polymer can be enhanced by doping the polymer with an electron acceptor such as iodine, in order to cure the polymer. Among the nonconjugated polymers are the cis-1,4-polyisoprene, cis-1,4 polybutadiene, styrene-butadiene copolymers (SBR), ethylene-propylene-diene monomer and poly (&#x3b2;-pinene). A heated mixture of iodine and sulfur produces a faster rate of vulcanization of rubber than using sulfur alone.

Efficient process of vulcanization of nonconjugated conductive polymers including rubbers

Nonconjugated conductive polymers, which are all polymers that have a ratio of double bonds to total bonds of less than &#xbd; are doped or used to produce compositions with unexpected characteristics in this invention. A light emitting structure can be produced by coating a quartz or glass substrate with a high work function metal which has a nonconjugated conductive polymer film on the metal and a low work function metal deposited on the nonconjugated polymer. The electrical conductivity of nonconjugated polymers can be greatly increased by doping the polymer with a dopant. The mechanical and elastomeric properties of a nonconjugated polymer can be changed by doping the polymer. The electro-optic effect and the refractive index of a nonconjugated conductive polymer can be greatly changed by doping the polymer. Among the nonconjugated polymers are styrene-butadiene-rubber (SBR), poly(&#x3b2;-pinene) and cis-1-4 polyisoprene. The enhancement of the nonlinear optical effect is due to the special charge-transfer complex structure and formation of nano-optical domains. Among the doping materials are electron acceptors such as iodine and antimony pentachloride. A heated mixture of iodine and sulfur produces a faster rate of vulcanization of rubber than using sulfur alone. A method of controlling insect breeding is provided which involves exposing the insects to tires that have been vulcanized using iodine.

Applications of nonconjugated conductive polymers

Rechargeable batteries have been fabricated using doped nonconjugated conductive polymers as the cathode and various metals such as aluminum, copper and zinc as the anode. A nonconjugated conductive polymer is a polymer with at least one double bond in the repeat with the double bond number fraction of less than &#xbd;. The dopants include electron acceptors such as iodine. Various electrolytes including potassium iodide dissolved in water can be used. A paste formed by dissolving potassium iodide and poly(vinyl alcohol) in water has been used to demonstrate batteries in the shape of large-area sheets (11 cm&#xd7;11 cm&#xd7;5 mm). An open circuit voltage of 1.25 volts and a capacity more than 5 mAh have been observed. The batteries are rechargeable using an external power supply.

Rechargeable batteries based on nonconjugated conductive polymers

High-efficiency laser-like emission at low thresholds in dipolar organic materials upon pulsed optical excitation, without using any external mirrors. Unusually high conversion efficiencies and low thresholds in laser-like emission have been observed in the solutions of organic molecular salts having large dipole moments and specific dye molecules having high photoluminescence efficiencies. Pumped with frequency-doubled pulses from a Nd:YAG laser, conversion efficiencies in the range of 15-40% were achieved without incorporation of external mirrors. The threshold pump energies for such emission have been observed to be low (&#x3c;8 &#x3bc;J). The spectrally narrowed output beam was found to have low divergence, high degree of polarization, and pulse-width less than that of the excitation pulses (50 picoseconds). The exceptionally low threshold (&#x3c;1 &#x3bc;J) and high energy conversion efficiencies observed in molecular salts have been attributed to the large excited-state dipole moment of these noncentrosymmetric molecules favoring strong cooperative (laser-like) emission in spite of small photoluminescence quantum efficiencies.

Dipolar organic materials producing highly efficient laser-like emission

A method for sensing mechanical quantities such as force, stress, strain, pressure and acceleration is disclosed. This technology is based on a change in the electrochemically generated voltage (electromotive force) with application of force, stress, strain, pressure or acceleration. The change in the voltage is due to a change in the internal resistance of the electrochemical cell with a change in the relative position or orientation of the electrodes (anode and cathode) in the cell. The signal to be detected (e.g. force, stress, strain, pressure or acceleration) is applied to one of the electrodes to cause a change in the relative position or orientation between the electrodes. Various materials, solid, semisolid, gel, paste or liquid can be utilized as the electrolyte. The electrolyte must be an ion conductor. The examples of solid electrolytes include specific polymer conductors, polymer composites, ion conducting glasses and ceramics. The electrodes are made of conductors such as metals with dissimilar electro negativities. Significantly enhanced sensitivities, up to three orders of magnitude higher than that of comparable commercial sensors, are obtained. The materials are substantially less expensive than commercially used materials for mechanical sensors. An apparatus for sensing such mechanical quantities using materials such as doped 1,4 cis-polyisopropene and nafion. The 1,4 cis-polyisopropene may be doped with lithium perchlorate or iodine. The output voltage signal increases with an increase of the sensing area for a given stress. The device can be used as an intruder alarm, among other applications.

Sensor apparatus using an electrochemical cell

A novel technology for sensing mechanical quantities such as force, stress, strain, pressure and acceleration has been invented. This technology is based on a change in the electrochemically generated voltage (electromotive force) with application of force, stress, strain, pressure or acceleration. The change in the voltage is due to a change in the internal resistance of the electrochemical cell with a change in the relative position or orientation of the electrodes (anode and cathode) in the cell. The signal to be detected (e.g. force, stress, strain, pressure or acceleration) is applied to one of the electrodes to cause a change in the relative position or orientation between the electrodes. Various materials, solid, semisolid, gel, paste or liquid can be utilized as the electrolyte. The electrolyte must be an ion conductor. The examples of solid electrolytes include specific polymer conductors, polymer composites, ion conducting glasses and ceramics. The electrodes are made of conductors such as metals with dissimilar electronegativities. Significantly enhanced sensitivities, up to three orders of magnitude higher than that of comparable commercial sensors, are obtained. The materials are substantially less expensive than commercially used materials for mechanical sensors.

A method for preparation of single crystal films of organic second order optical materials, the films having controlled orientation and thickness. This method produces films of excellent optical quality and with large nonlinearities suitable for device applications. The material of interest is introduced into the interface of two optically flat solid substrates. The substrate surfaces are pretreated so that they are hydrophilic. The material is formed as a liquid phase (highly concentrated solution) in the interface. An external pressure is applied that brings the substrates close together and a shear is applied by moving one substrate with respect to the other while the substrates are held under a constant pressure. As a consequence of these interactions, oriented molecular clusters or nuclei are formed with the molecules organized in a specific direction with respect to the substrate-surface.

Method for preparation of single crystal films of organic second order optical materials

A method for preparing thin large-area single crystals of diacetylene monomer represented by the formula:

Methods for the preparation of thin large-area single crystals of

An optical waveguide made from a unitary organic film has a polydiacetylene core region and a diacetylene monomer cladding substrate region. The index of refraction of the polydiacetylene core region is greater than the index of refraction of the diacetylene monomer cladding substrate region. The method of fabricating the optical waveguide comprises depositing a diacetylene monomer film on a substrate. The diacetylene monomer film is polymerized by ion beam bombardment to a depth less than the thickness of the film. The depth of the polymerization is controlled by the ion mass and energy of the ion beam applied.

Optical waveguides and methods for making same

This invention relates to the discovery of a novel class of intrinsically electrically conductive doped solid organic homopolymers having a conductivity when measured by the four point probe method at standard temperature conditions within the range of about 10.sup.-3 to 10 ohms.sup.-1 cm.sup.-1 developed by either treatment of the organic polymer surface with an electron donor or an electron acceptor dopant. The individual 'mer' unit of the useful polymeric class of homopolymers for the purposes of accepting the dopant treatment consist of homopolymers having the repeating general structure: ##STR1## wherein the useful members of this class require that the R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 substituents in the illustrated structured 'mer' are not both hydrogen substituents. However, in many instances of individual operative members of the class R.sub.1 and R.sub.2 may be otherwise a halogen or moities of a simple hydrocarbon structure, particularly methyl, when alkyl group extended chains, such as isopropyl, have been equated by theoretical comparison, likewise, it is also established that the simple phenyl (aromatic) group is also functionally useful. The 'mer' units of the polymer are isolated which is in contrast with prior art polymers which have been suggested or useful which contain conjugated bond structures.

Intrinsically conductive doped polymers of enhanced stability

Methods for preparing thin large-area single crystals of diacetylenes and polydiacetylenes having surface dimensions greater than or equal to about 0.1 mm on all sides and a uniform thickness less than or equal to about 100 microns. The methods involve forming a liquid layer, preferably by melting crystals of a pure diacetylene monomer between two opposed surfaces, one surface being movable with respect to the other; applying pressure to the molten monomer layer disposed between the two surfaces; shearing the molten layer by sliding the movable surface in a single direction that is in a straight line across the molten monomer layer while keeping the molten monomer layer under constant pressure; and crystallizing the shorn molten monomer layer while the shorn molten monomer layer is kept under constant pressure to form a thin large-area single crystal of pure diacetylene monomer. The method for preparing thin large-area single crystals of polydiacetylene further involves exposing a surface of the thin large-area single crystal of diacetylene monomer to ultraviolet or gamma radiation to form a thin large-area single crystal of polydiacetylene.

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Auburn, AL, United States of America

Mrinal Thakur