Efficient Synthesis of Highly Pure Cyclic Polyacetylene, a Versatile Conductive Polymer

Produces High Conductivity Cyclic Polymer Useful for Functional Thin Films

This process efficiently synthesizes pure, highly-conjugated cyclic polyacetylene in film, bulk, and soluble form, producing conductive cyclic polymers for many applications. A cyclic polymer binds together the chain ends of a linear polymer, dramatically changing its physical properties, often for industrial advantage. However, cyclic polymers are very difficult to synthesize. Linear polyacetylene is a known conductive polymer. Its cyclic counterpart, which would offer superior electrical conductivity, remains unavailable.

Researchers at the University of Florida have developed a catalytic process that synthesizes cyclic polyacetylene, a polymer with high electrical conductivity suitable for use in functional thin films. Functional polymer thin films benefit many energy applications due to their conductivity and processability, providing a better material alternative for separation membranes in fuel cells, electrodes in batteries, and various components in solar power systems.

Application

Cyclic polyacetylene synthesis for creating low-cost, electrically conductive functional polymer thin films

Advantages

• Efficiently synthesizes cyclic trans polyacetylene without heat treatment, providing a low-cost, highly pure conductive cyclic polymer
• High electrical conductivity improves the efficiency of conductive thin films, making better functional alternatives to metal components
• Polymer can take bulk, film, or soluble form, integrating into a range of industrial processes

Technology

This is the first synthesis of cyclic polyacetylene ever reported. Unlike the synthesis of linear polyacetylene, this cyclic polyacetylene synthesis is versatile to polymerization temperature ranging from -90 to 70 °C, producing exclusively trans polyacetylene as a high-quality polymer, with low crosslinking defects, less than 1 percent. A UF catalyst enables cyclic polymerization of acetylene to form trans-cyclic polyacetylene in film, powder, or soluble form.