US4488943A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Polymer blends for use in photoelectrochemical cells for conversion of solar energy to electricity and methods for manufacturing such blends
Assignee: United States Department of Energy
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Filing: 1982-12-09
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Granted: 1984-12-18
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Expires: 2002-12-09
Abstract
Abstract There is disclosed a polymer blend of a highly conductive polymer and a solid polymer electrolyte that is designed to achieve better charge transfer across the conductive film/polymer electrolyte interface of the electrochemical photovoltaic cell. The highly conductive polymer is preferably polypyrrole or poly-N-p-nitrophenylpyrrole and the solid polymer electrolyte is preferably polyethylene oxide or polypropylene oxide.
Inventors
- 👤 Terje Skotheim
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-27 23:23
CPC Classifications
H; H01; H01G; H01G9/00; H01G9/20; H01M; H01M14/00; H01M14/005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for producing a thin film polymer blend of a highly conductive polymer and a solid polymer electrolyte comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a substrate for receiving said film; (b) preparing a solution of a monomer of said highly conductive polymer and a complex of said solid polymer electrolyte; (c) immersing said substrate into said solution and by electrochemical or photoelectrochemical methods forming said polymer blend film on said substrate.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
72 words
A method for producing a thin film polymer blend of a highly conductive polymer and a solid polymer electrolyte comprising the steps of: (a) preparing a substrate for receiving said film; (b) preparing a solution of a monomer of said highly conductive polymer and a complex of said solid polymer electrolyte; (c) immersing said substrate into said solution and by electrochemical or photoelectrochemical methods forming said polymer blend film on said substrate.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said monomer is pyrrole and said highly conductive polymer which is formed as part of the thin film polymer blend is polypyrrole.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said monomer is N-p-nitrophenylpyrrole and said highly conductive polymer which is formed as part of the thin film polymer blend is poly-N-p-nitrophenylpyrrole.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the solvent used is selected from the group consisting of acetonitrile, ethanol, methanol, and tetrahydrofuran.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
23 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said highly conductive polymer is doped by adding to the solution tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate or tetraethylammonium perchlorate.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said monomer which forms said highly conductive polymer is selected from the group consisting of indole, which forms polyindole when polymerized; azulene, which forms polyazulene when polymerized; thiophene, which forms polythiophene when polymerized; and furan, which forms polyfuran when polymerized.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said solid polymer electrolyte is selected from the group consisting polyethylene oxide and polypropylene oxide.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method according to claim 7, wherein said solid polymer electrolyte is complexed with potassium iodide or sodium iodide.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said substrate is a semiconductor or a semiconductor coated with a transparent metallic layer.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein the metal used to form the transparent metallic layer on the semiconductor is platinum.
Claim 12
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of forming a polymer blend film having improved electric charge transfer characteristics, comprising the steps of: (a) forming a solution of (i) acetonitrile as solvent (ii) tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate (0.01-1.0 Molar) (iii) pyrrole (0.01-5.0 Molar) (iv) 0.01-3.0% polyethylene oxide by weight; molecular weight of polyethylene oxide may be 10 4 -5×10 6 (v) potassium iodide in a ratio of 4.5-8 polyether oxygen atoms per potassium atom (vi) I 2 in a ratio of KI:I 2 =4:1 (b) immersing a substrate in said solution; and (c) applying a polymerization potential of at least 0.5 volts if the substrate used is metallic; or applying a polymerization potential of at least 0.5 volts while applying light of sufficient intensity to cause said pyrrole monomer to polymerize if the substrate used is an n-type semiconductor.
Claim 13
Independent Claim
132 words
A method of forming a polymer blend film having improved electric charge transfer characteristics, comprising the steps of: (a) forming a solution of (i) acetonitrile as solvent (ii) tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate (0.01-1.0 Molar) (iii) pyrrole (0.01-5.0 Molar) (iv) 0.01-3.0% polyethylene oxide by weight; molecular weight of polyethylene oxide may be 10 4 -5×10 6 (v) potassium iodide in a ratio of 4.5-8 polyether oxygen atoms per potassium atom (vi) I 2 in a ratio of KI:I 2 =4:1 (b) immersing a substrate in said solution; and (c) applying a polymerization potential of at least 0.5 volts if the substrate used is metallic; or applying a polymerization potential of at least 0.5 volts while applying light of sufficient intensity to cause said pyrrole monomer to polymerize if the substrate used is an n-type semiconductor.
Claim 14
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of forming a polymer blend film having improved electric charge transfer characteristics, comprising the steps of: (a) forming a solution of (i) acetonitrile as solvent (ii) tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate (0.01-1.0 Molar) (iii) pyrrole (0.01-5.0 Molar) (iv) 0.01-3.0% polyethylene oxide by weight; molecular weight of polyethylene oxide may be 10 4 -5×10 6 (v) potassium nitrate as complexing agent (vi) potassium iodide in a ratio of 4.5-8 polyether oxygen atoms per potassium atom (vii) I 2 in a ratio of KI:I 2 =4:1 (b) immersing a substrate in said solution; and (c) applying a polymerization potential of at least 0.5 volts if the substrate used is metallic; or applying a polymerization potential of at least 0.5 volts while applying light of sufficient intensity to cause said pyrrole monomer to polymerize if the substrate used is an n-type semiconductor.
Claim 15
Independent Claim
138 words
A method of forming a polymer blend film having improved electric charge transfer characteristics, comprising the steps of: (a) forming a solution of (i) acetonitrile as solvent (ii) tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate (0.01-1.0 Molar) (iii) pyrrole (0.01-5.0 Molar) (iv) 0.01-3.0% polyethylene oxide by weight; molecular weight of polyethylene oxide may be 10 4 -5×10 6 (v) potassium nitrate as complexing agent (vi) potassium iodide in a ratio of 4.5-8 polyether oxygen atoms per potassium atom (vii) I 2 in a ratio of KI:I 2 =4:1 (b) immersing a substrate in said solution; and (c) applying a polymerization potential of at least 0.5 volts if the substrate used is metallic; or applying a polymerization potential of at least 0.5 volts while applying light of sufficient intensity to cause said pyrrole monomer to polymerize if the substrate used is an n-type semiconductor.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 11, wherein N-p-nitrophenylpyrrole is used as the monomer in place of pyrrole.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said substrate is a glass substrate.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
38 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein said substrate is selected from the group comprising a coating of platinum on another substrate; a coating of chromium on another substrate; or a coating of indium-tin oxide on another substrate.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the substrate employed is a metallic substrate and the polymerization is accomplished by electrochemical methods.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method according to claim 1, wherein the substrate employed is an n-type semiconductor and the polymerization is accomplished by photoelectrochemical methods.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method according to claim 12, wherein N-p-nitrophenylpyrrole is used as the monomer in place of pyrrole.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4334054A
Cited
US4427513A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-12-18 | 1988-06-18 | 1988-12-18 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-12-18 | 1992-06-18 | 1992-12-18 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-12-18 | 1996-06-18 | 1996-12-18 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |