# US 4,394,304 A · Electrically conducting polymer blends

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- Number: US 4,394,304 A
- Document ID: US4394304A
- Status: Granted
- Kind: A
- Application number: 06/344,143
- Filed: 1982-01-29
- Granted: 1983-07-19
- Earliest claimed: 1982-01-29
- Assignees: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
- Inventors: Gary E. Wnek
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US4394304A

## CPC

- H01M 4/60: of organic compounds
- C08F 8/22: by reaction with free halogens
- C08F 255/02: on to polymers of olefins having two or three carbon atoms
- C08F 257/02: on to polymers of styrene or alkyl-substituted styrenes
- Y02E 60/10: Energy storage using batteries
- H01M: PROCESSES OR MEANS, e.g. BATTERIES, FOR THE DIRECT CONVERSION OF CHEMICAL ENERGY INTO ELECTRICAL ENERGY
- C08F: MACROMOLECULAR COMPOUNDS OBTAINED BY REACTIONS ONLY INVOLVING CARBON-TO-CARBON UNSATURATED BONDS
- Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION

## Abstract

A method of forming a conductive polymer comprising a blend of at least one processable polymer, polyacetylene and a dopant by impregnating the processable polymer with a Ziegler-Natta catalyst; exposing the impregnated polymer to acetylene gas, whereby substantially linear molecules of polyacetylene are formed within a matrix of the processable polymer; and introducing a dopant into the polyacetylene, whereby a conductive blend is formed.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of forming a conductive polymer comprising a blend of at least one processable polymer, polyacetylene and a dopant, the method comprising:
(a) impregnating at least one processable polymer with a Ziegler-Natta catalyst;
(b) exposing said impregnated polymer to acetylene gas, whereby substantially linear molecules of polyacetylene are formed within a matrix of the processable polymer; and
(c) introducing a dopant into the polyacetylene, whereby a conductive blend is formed.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein the processable polymer is polyethylene.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein the processable polymer is polystyrene.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein the dopant is iodine.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein the catalyst is Ti(n-OBu).sub.4 /Et.sub.3 Al.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The process of claim 1 wherein the step of impregnating the processable polymer with the catalyst further comprises impregnating said polymer with said catalyst at elevated temperatures.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1, 2, 3)

The conductive polymer blend formed by the method of claim 1, 2 or 3.

### Claim 8

A method of forming a conductive polymer blend comprising polyethylene and iodine-doped polyacetylene, the method comprising:
(a) impregnating polyethylene with a Ziegler-Natta catalyst of the formula Ti(n-OBu).sub.4 /Et.sub.3 Al;
(b) exposing said impregnated polyethylene to acetylene gas, whereby polyacetylene is formed within a matrix of polyethylene; and
(c) introducing iodine into the polyacetylene, whereby a conductive polymer is formed.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The polymer blend formed by the method of claim 8.

### Claim 10

A method of forming a conductive polymer blend comprising polystyrene and iodine-doped polyacetylene, the method comprising:
(a) impregnating polystyrene with a Ziegler-Natta catalyst of the formula Ti(n-OBu).sub.4 /Et.sub.3 Al;
(b) exposing said impregnated polystyrene to acetylene gas, whereby polyacetylene is formed within a matrix of polystyrene; and
(c) introducing iodine into the polystyrene, whereby a conductive polymer is formed.

### Claim 11 (depends on 10)

The polymer blend formed by the method of claim 10.