Amorphous Conductive Polymer Conductor for Improved Wash Durability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional conductive polymer fibers face issues with wash durability and conductivity, as the conductive polymer on the surface peels off during repeated washing, leading to decreased performance.
Innovation Solution
A conductive polymer conductor with an amorphous or low-crystalline conductive polymer is adhered to a substrate using ethanol as a solvent and an oxidizing agent, improving adhesion and durability, and optimizing the oxidizing agent to monomer volume ratio within a range of 40:1 to 40:5 for enhanced conductivity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional conductive polymer is used on substrate, then conductivity is achieved, but wash durability deteriorates due to peeling off
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the crystalline state parameter of the conductive polymer from crystalline to amorphous or low-crystalline. This parameter change improves adhesion to the substrate and prevents peeling during washing, thereby resolving the contradiction between wash durability and adhesion stability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a composite structure where amorphous or low-crystalline conductive polymer is adhered to a substrate. This composite material approach enhances the interfacial bonding between the polymer and substrate, improving both wash durability and adhesion stability simultaneously.
2Reliability
If conventional conductive polymer fiber is used, then basic conductivity is achieved, but conductivity level is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes multiple parameters including the oxidizing agent to monomer volume ratio (40:1 to 40:5), solvent type (ethanol), and polymerization conditions. These parameter changes achieve high conductivity (>1×10−2 S/cm) while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through a straightforward polymerization process.
3Manufacturing precision
If conductive polymer is adhered to substrate, then conductivity is provided, but uniform adhesion is difficult to achieve
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the polymer structure from crystalline to amorphous or low-crystalline, which improves conformability to the substrate surface. Combined with ethanol as solvent and controlled polymerization, this achieves uniform adhesion while maintaining structural stability.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution results in improved wash durability and conductivity, with electric conductivity exceeding 1×10−2 S/cm, and the amorphous or low-crystalline conductive polymer adheres uniformly to the substrate, maintaining performance even after multiple washes.
Implementation Method 1
polymerizing a monomer of the conductive polymer by an oxidizing agent
Implementation Method 2
using ethanol as a solvent
Data Source
AI summary
To provide a conductive polymer conductor that enables improvement of wash durability and conductivity and a method for manufacturing the same. A conductive polymer conductor has a conductive polymer adhered to a substrate and can be used, for example, as a conductive polymer electrode. Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) can be cited as a preferable example of the conductive polymer. The conductive polymer is low-crystalline with low crystallinity and is thereby made capable of being adhered uniformly to the substrate and improving adhesion to the substrate.