Water-soluble electrically conducting polymers, their synthesis and use

Claim 2

A water-soluble, electrically conductive composition of matter capable of forming a stable 5 wt. % solution in water, comprising a polyacid wherein said polyacid is selected from the group consisting of poly(acrylic acid), poly(methacrylic acid), poly(styrene sulfonic acid), poly(vinylsulfonic acid), poly(styrene boric acid), poly(vinyl boric acid), poly(vinyl sulfuric acid), poly(styrene phosphonic acid), poly(vinyl phosphoric acid), poly(styrene phosphonic acid) and poly(vinyl phosphonic acid), and a polymer comprising at least one conjugated region composed of repeating units which contain a conjugated basic atom wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of substituted and unsubstituted homopolymers and copolymers of aniline, thiophene, pyrrole, and p-phenylene sulfide, wherein the number of acidic groups in said polyacid exceeds the number of protonatable basic atoms in said polymer.

Claim 3

A composition of matter according to claim 1 wherein said polyacid is poly(styrene sulfonic acid).

Claim 4

A composition of matter according to claim 1 wherein said polyacid is poly(vinyl sulfonic acid).

Claim 5

A composition of matter according to claim 1 wherein said polyacid is poly(acrylic acid).

Claim 6

A composition of matter according to claim 1 wherein said polyacid is poly(methacrylic acid).

Claim 7

A composition of matter according to claim 1 wherein said polyacid is poly(vinyl phosphonic acid).

Claim 8

A composition of matter according to claim 1 wherein said polyacid is poly(styrene phosphonic acid).

Claim 9

A composition of matter according to claim 1 wherein said polymer is polyaniline.

Claim 10

A composition of matter according to claim 8 wherein said polyacid is poly(styrene sulfonic acid).

Claim 11

A composition of matter according to claim 1 wherein said polymer is polythiophene.

Claim 12

A composition of matter according to claim 1 wherein said polymer is polypyrrole.

Claim 13

A composition of matter according to claim 1 wherein said polymer is poly(p-phenylene sulfide).

Claim 14

A composition of matter according to claim 1 wherein said aniline is substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkoxyalkyl, and alkoxy groups containing 1 to 30 carbon atoms.

Claim 15

A composition of matter according to claim 1 wherein said thiophene is substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkoxyalkyl, and alkoxy groups containing 1 to 30 carbon atoms.

Claim 16

A composition of matter according to claim 1 wherein said pyrrole is substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkoxyalkyl, and alkoxy groups containing 1 to 30 carbon atoms.

Claim 17

A composition of matter according to claim 1 wherein said p-phenylene sulfide is substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkoxyalkyl, and alkoxy groups containing 1 to 30 carbon atoms.

Claim 18

A composition of matter according to claim 1 wherein said polymer is cross-linkable.

Claim 19

An aqueous solution comprising a composition of matter according to claim 1.

Claim 20

An aqueous solution according to claim 18 comprising dissolved therein at least about 5 wt. % of said composition of matter.

Claim 21

An aqueous solution according to claim 18 comprising dissolved therein about 5 wt. % to about 10 wt. % of said composition of matter.

Claim 22

An aqueous solution according to claim 18 comprising dissolved therein about 5 wt. % of said composition of matter.

Claim 23

A solution according to claim 18 wherein said polyacid is poly(styrene sulfonic acid).

Claim 24

A solution according to claim 18 wherein said polyacid is poly(vinyl sulfonic acid).

Claim 25

A solution according to claim 18 wherein said polyacid is poly(acrylic acid).

Claim 26

A solution according to claim 18 wherein said polyacid is poly(methacrylic acid).

Claim 27

A solution according to claim 18 wherein said polyacid is poly(vinyl phosphonic acid).

Claim 28

A solution according to claim 18 wherein said polyacid is poly(styrene phosphonic acid).

Claim 29

A solution according to claim 18 wherein said polymer is polyaniline.

Claim 30

A solution according to claim 18 wherein said polyacid is poly(styrene sulfonic acid).

Claim 31

A solution according to claim 18 wherein said polymer is polythiophene.

Claim 32

A solution according to claim 18 wherein said polymer is polypyrrole.

Claim 33

A solution according to claim 18 wherein said polymer is poly(p-phenylene sulfide).

Claim 34

A solution according to claim 18 wherein said aniline is substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkoxyalkyl, and alkoxy groups containing 1 to 30 carbon atoms.

Claim 35

A solution according to claim 18 wherein said thiophene is substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkoxyalkyl, and alkoxy groups containing 1 to 30 carbon atoms.

Claim 36

A solution according to claim 18 wherein said pyrrole is substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkoxyalkyl, and alkoxy groups containing 1 to 30 carbon atoms.

Claim 37

A solution according to claim 18 wherein said p-phenylene sulfide is substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkoxyalkyl, and alkoxy groups containing 1 to 30 carbon atoms.

Claim 38

A solution according to claim 18 wherein said polymer is cross-linkable.

Claim 39

A water-insoluble, electrically conductive composition of matter comprising a polyacid selected from the group consisting of poly(acrylic acid), (methacrylic acid), poly(styrene sulfonic acid), poly(vinylsulfonic acid), poly(styrene boric acid), poly(vinyl boric acid), poly(vinyl sulfuric acid), poly(styrene phosphoric acid), poly(vinyl phosphoric acid), poly(styrene phosphonic acid) and poly(vinyl phosphonic acid), and a polymer comprising at least one conjugated region composed of repeating units which contain a conjugated basic atom, wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of substituted and unsubstituted homopolymers and copolymers of aniline, thiophene, pyrrole, and p-phenylene sulfide, wherein the number of acidic groups in said polyacid exceeds the number of protonatable basic atoms in said polymer, wherein said composition of matter is capable of forming a stable 5 wt. % solution in water when said polymer is not cross-linked, wherein said polymer is cross-linked.

Claim 40

A water-insoluble, electrically conductive composition of matter comprising a polyacid selected from the group consisting of poly(acrylic acid), (methacrylic acid), poly(styrene sulfonic acid), poly(vinylsulfonic acid), poly(styrene boric acid), poly(vinyl boric acid), poly(vinyl sulfuric acid), poly(styrene phosphoric acid), poly(vinyl phosphoric acid), poly(styrene phosphonic acid) and poly(vinyl phosphonic acid), and a polymer comprising at least one conjugated region composed of repeating units which contain a conjugated basic atom, wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of substituted and unsubstituted homopolymers and copolymers of aniline, thiophene, pyrrole, and p-phenylene sulfide, wherein the number of acidic groups in said polyacid exceeds the number of protonatable basic atoms in said polymer, wherein said composition of matter is capable of forming a stable 5 wt. % solution in water when said polymer is not cross-linked, wherein said polymer is cross-linked.

Claim 41

A composition of matter according to claim 38 wherein said polymer is selected from the group consisting of polymers of aniline, thiophene, pyrrole, and p-phenylene sulfide.

Claim 42

A composition of matter according to claim 39 wherein said polymer is polyaniline.

Claim 43

A composition of matter according to claim 38 wherein said polyacid is poly(styrene sulfonic acid).

Claim 44

A composition of matter according to claim 41 wherein said polymer is polyaniline.

Claim 45

A water-soluble, electrically conductive composition of matter capable of forming a stable 5 wt. % solution in water, and comprising a polyacid and a conjugated polymer composed of repeating units which contain a conjugated basic atom, wherein the number of acidic groups in said polyacid exceeds the number of protonatable basic atoms in said polymer, which composition of matter is the product of the process comprising forming an aqueous solution of one or more monomers selected from the group consisting of substituted and unsubstituted aniline, thiophene, pyrrole, and mercaptophenol, and a polyacid selected from the group consisting of poly(acrylic acid), poly(methacrylic acid), poly(styrene sulfonic acid), poly(vinylsulfonic acid), poly(styrene boric acid), poly(vinyl boric acid), poly(vinyl sulfuric acid), poly(styrene phosphoric acid), poly(vinyl phosphoric acid), poly(styrene phosphonic acid) and poly(vinyl phosphonic acid), wherein the number of acid groups on said polyacid exceeds the number of said basic atoms, and polymerizing the monomer while controlling the rate of initiation and the rate of propagation of said polymerization such that the polymerization forms said composition of matter in said solution.

Claim 46

A water-soluble, electrically conductive composition of matter capable of forming a stable 5 wt. % solution in water, and comprising a polyacid and a conjugated polymer composed of repeating units which contain a conjugated basic atom, wherein the number of acidic groups in said polyacid exceeds the number of protonatable basic atoms in said polymer, which composition of matter is the product of the process comprising forming an aqueous solution of one or more monomers selected from the group consisting of substituted and unsubstituted aniline, thiophene, pyrrole, and mercaptophenol, and a polyacid selected from the group consisting of poly(acrylic acid), poly(methacrylic acid), poly(styrene sulfonic acid), poly(vinylsulfonic acid), poly(styrene boric acid), poly(vinyl boric acid), poly(vinyl sulfuric acid), poly(styrene phosphoric acid), poly(vinyl phosphoric acid), poly(styrene phosphonic acid) and poly(vinyl phosphonic acid), wherein the number of acid groups on said polyacid exceeds the number of said basic atoms, and polymerizing the monomer while controlling the rate of initiation and the rate of propagation of said polymerization such that the polymerization forms said composition of matter in said solution.

Claim 47

A composition of matter according to claim 43 wherein said polyacid is poly(styrene sulfonic acid).

Claim 48

A composition of matter according to claim 43 wherein said polyacid is poly(vinyl sulfonic acid).

Claim 49

A composition of matter according to claim 43 wherein said polyacid is poly(acrylic acid).

Claim 50

A composition of matter according to claim 43 wherein said polyacid is poly(methacrylic acid).

Claim 51

A composition of matter according to claim 43 wherein said polyacid is poly(vinyl phosphonic acid).

Claim 52

A composition of matter according to claim 43 wherein said polyacid is poly(styrene phosphonic acid).

Claim 53

A composition of matter according to claim 43 wherein said polymer is polyaniline.

Claim 54

A composition of matter according to claim 43 wherein said polyacid is poly(styrene sulfonic acid).

Claim 55

A composition of matter according to claim 43 wherein said polymer is polythiophene.

Claim 56

A composition of matter according to claim 43 wherein said polymer is polypyrrole.

Claim 57

A composition of matter according to claim 43 wherein said polymer is poly(p-phenylene sulfide).

Claim 58

A composition of matter according to claim 43 wherein said aniline is substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkoxyalkyl, and alkoxy groups containing 1 to 30 carbon atoms.

Claim 59

A composition of matter according to claim 43 wherein said thiophene is substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkoxyalkyl, and alkoxy groups containing 1 to 30 carbon atoms.

Claim 60

A composition of matter according to claim 43 wherein said pyrrole is substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkoxyalkyl, and alkoxy group containing 1 to 30 carbon atoms.

Claim 61

A composition of matter according to claim 43 wherein said p-phenylene sulfide is substituted with one or more substituents selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkoxyalkyl, and alkoxy groups containing 1 to 30 carbon atoms.

Claim 62

A composition of matter according to claim 43 wherein said polymer is cross-linkable.