Improves Adhesion of Secondary Materials onto Graphene and Carbon Nanotube Film Electrodes Without Degrading Their Conductance
This conjugated polymer ensures reliable non-covalent interactions between secondary materials and carbon nanotube films without degrading the conductivity. Graphene or carbon nanotube films can produce robust, flexible and transparent electrodes, supporting the design of a broad range of devices including electrochromic windows, capacitors, super-capacitors, light emitting diodes, light emitting transistors, electrostrictive devices, and more. To perform optimally, some secondary material must be electrically coupled to the graphene or nanotube film. However, adhesion to such secondary materials is typically very weak for available graphene and carbon nanotube surfaces because they are chemically self-satisfied , or Teflon-like, resulting in material separation. This problem is particularly severe in flexible film applications because strain can cause delamination of the secondary material from the graphene or carbon nanotube surface, severely degrading the electrical contact and impairing the performance of the device. Conventional solutions to overcome this problem include attaching chemical anchors along the nanotube sidewalls that bond with the secondary material. Unfortunately, such covalent attachments degrades their intrinsic electrical conductivity.
Researchers at the University of Florida have developed a synthesized electroactive polymer backbone, coupled along its length to multiple flexible linkers that bind non-covalently to a graphene or carbon nanotube sidewall. Because the polymer backbone is itself electroactive, and molecularly thin, the graphene or carbon nanotubes attain good electrical coupling to the secondary material, while also being strongly bonded to it, even when strained.
Application
Conducting polymers that bind to graphene or nanotubes to allow their strong association with secondary materials, avoiding their delamination (even under large strains) without impeding the electrical contact between the graphene or carbon nanotubes and the secondary material
Advantages
- Associates with graphene or carbon nanotubes by non-covalent bonding, avoiding disruption of their intrinsic electrical conductivity
- Provides manufacturers with a flexible and uncomplicated association process, decreasing the cost of production
- Strengthens the bonding between graphene or carbon nanotubes and secondary materials compared to alternatives, preventing delamination under mechanical stresses and strains
Technology
This conducting polymer consists of two components: a conjugated polymer backbone and polymeric aromatic hydrocarbon chains. The conjugated polymer backbone contains delocalized electrons, which flow throughout the entire composite whenever an electric field is applied. The hanging hydrocarbon chains have a functional group attached, which can vary per conducting polymer. With multiple functional groups included per polymer segment, non-covalent interactions are secured, thus creating stable composites of carbon nanotubes or other graphene-based materials.
Patent Issued: US 8,961,830
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