Elastomeric composites with tether-containing, conducting polymers for nanoscale diffusion control
AssigneeThe United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
InventorsBrett D. Martin, Martin H. Moore, Banahalli R. Ratna, Gusphyl Justin, Jawad Naciri
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Abstract
A redox-active conductive polymer includes a charged tether. An interpenetrating network including such a conducting polymer can be switched between two states of diffusivity (porosity) by application of a voltage. Such a material can be useful in breathable protective clothing, controlled release, intelligent sensing/filtration, novel separation processes, nanomanufacturing, and other areas.
Claims18
A material comprising:
- an interpenetrating polymer network comprising:
- a compound having the formula:
- wherein X is a sulfonate salt, a phosphonate salt, a carboxylate salt, or a boronate salt and wherein n is an integer from 2 to 10;
- wherein the material repeatably switches between an open state and an closed state upon receiving a voltage.
A material comprising:
- an interpenetrating polymer network comprising:
- a compound having the formula:
- wherein X is a sulfonate salt, a phosphonate salt, a carboxylate salt, a cyclic moiety comprising a negatively-charged nitrogen, or a boronate salt and wherein n is an integer from 2 to 10;
- wherein the material repeatably switches between an open state and an closed state upon receiving a voltage.
A method of modulating the diffusivity of a material, the method comprising:
- reducing the material to decrease its diffusivity and oxidizing the material to increase its diffusivity,
- wherein the material comprises a compound having the formula:
- wherein X is a sulfonate salt, a phosphonate salt, a carboxylate salt, a cyclic moiety comprising a negatively-charged nitrogen, or a boronate salt and wherein n is an integer from 2 to 10.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.