Composite Conductive Polymer Composition for Soluble Films
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conductive polymers face challenges in achieving sufficient solubility in solvents while maintaining electric conductivity, leading to issues in forming uniform films and electrodes for applications like dye-sensitized solar cells and antistatic films, due to high planarity and stacking tendencies of π-conjugated polymers, which hinder their solubility and film formation processes.
Innovation Solution
A composite conductive polymer composition is developed by doping π-conjugated polymers with a polymer compound containing sulfonic acid and polar monomers, which acts as an emulsifier and steric hinderance to prevent stacking, allowing for stable and uniform polymerization and solubility in electrolytic solvents like alcohol-based or glycol-based solvents.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If π-conjugated polymer is doped to enhance electric conductivity, then conductivity is improved, but solubility deteriorates due to enhanced planarity and stacking tendency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite doping system combining two dopants: (1) a polyelectrolyte dopant containing sulfonic acid groups that provides conductivity through ionic doping, and (2) a small molecule dopant that enhances planarity and charge carrier mobility. This composite approach allows simultaneous achievement of high conductivity and solubility by distributing doping functions across two different mechanisms
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the ratio of polyelectrolyte dopant to small molecule dopant, as well as the concentration and molecular weight parameters of the polyelectrolyte, to balance the competing requirements of conductivity enhancement (requiring high doping level) and solubility maintenance (requiring moderate doping level)
2Reliability
If polymer chain planarity is enhanced to improve conductivity, then charge carrier mobility is improved, but stacking tendency increases reducing solubility
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces local steric hindrance through bulky side chains on the polymer backbone that create localized spacing between chains. This local structural modification prevents excessive stacking and crystallization while maintaining the overall planarity of the conjugated backbone needed for charge transport, thus resolving the contradiction between mobility and solubility
3Reliability
If conventional doping methods are used to achieve high conductivity, then conductivity is improved, but film formation control deteriorates due to uneven distribution
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a water-soluble polyelectrolyte dopant as an intermediary that facilitates uniform distribution of charge throughout the polymer matrix during the doping process. This intermediary dopant ensures homogeneous conductivity distribution and enables precise control of film formation, eliminating the unevenness associated with conventional doping methods
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 approach enables the formation of self-supported, homogeneous films and electrodes with improved solubility and conductivity, enhancing the performance of dye-sensitized solar cells and antistatic films by stabilizing the polymer composition and preventing crystallization.
Implementation Method 1
In order to enhance conductivity of a π-conjugated polymer, it is necessary to dope the polymer with a dopant
Implementation Method 2
the polymer compound (A) having a steric hindrance capable of preventing stacking of the π-conjugated polymer (B)
Implementation Method 3
which acts as an emulsifier and steric hinderance to prevent stacking, allowing for stable and uniform polymerization and solubility in electrolytic solvents
Implementation Method 4
chemical oxidative polymerization by use of an oxidizing agent
Data Source
AI summary
The purpose is to provide a technique which enables various kinds of conductive polymer composition to be dissolved in an organic solvent and to be used to form a conductive membrane on a target portion easily. Provided is a composite conductive polymer composition, a method of manufacturing the same, and a solution obtained by dissolving the composition in a alcohol-based, glycol-based, or ether-based solvent. The composition is obtained by doping a π-conjugated polymer (B) with a polymer compound (A), wherein the polymer compound (A) is obtained from (a-1) a monomer having a sulfonic acid group and a polymerizable vinyl group in an amount of 20 to 75 mol%, (a-2) a polar monomer having a hydrophilic group and a polymerizable vinyl group in an amount of 20 to 80 mol%, and (a-3) another polymerizable monomer in an amount of 0 to 20 mol%, and the π-conjugated polymer (B) is obtained from a monomer compound selected from the formulas (I) to (III) in the formula (I) to (III), at least one of R1 to R4 represent -OH or an alkoxy group of C1 to C6, and the other groups represent H, -OH, alkyl group of C1 to C4, or an alkoxy group of C1 to C6; at least one of R5 and R6 represent-OH or an alkoxy group of C1 to C6, and the other group represents H, -OH, an alkyl group of C1 to C4, or an alkoxy group of C1 to C6, or R5 and R6 jointly represent an alkylenedioxy group of C1 to C8; and R7 represents H, -OH, an alkyl group of C1 to C6 or an aromatic ring group.