Conducting poly (p-xylylidenes)

USH183H · kind H · statutory invention registration

Assignee

• The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Air · US

Inventors

• Frank E. Karasz · Amherst, US
• Robert W. Lenz · Hochdorf-Assenheim, DE
• David R. Gagnon · Rue Basse-Henne, GB
• James D. Capistran · Leverett, US

Key dates

• Grant date: Jan 6, 1987

Classification

• Technology area (CPC —): General

Abstract

Poly (p-xylylidenes) having a high degree of polymerization in the form of films, foams or highly molecularly oriented films and fibers are chemically modified from insulators to conducting materials by exposure to either p- or n-type dopants. Poly (p-xylylidene) films are cast from aqueous solutions of a poly (p-xylene-.alpha.-dimethylsulfonium salt) polyelectrolyte. Processing of the films at elevated temperatures can yield both fibers and foams. Exposure of the poly (p-xylylidene) films, fibers or foams to p-type dopants result in an up to fifteen order of magnitude increase in conductivity, while n-type coping yields a nine order of magnitude increase. Doping of molecularly oriented films and fibers yields a highly anisotropic conductor with a greatly improved conductivity in the orientation direction.