The Preparation of Polyacetylene.
Abstract
Polyacetylene (CH)x, is a simple organic polymer with a linear conjugated (unsaturated) structure. It can exist in two forms, cis and trans. (CH)x is almost entirely cis when synthesized at 77 K, the cis-trans ratio decreasing when the temperature is raised until isomerization to trans-(CH)x is complete at about 150 C. The polymer can be produced as a thin film or a flocculent precipitate and consists of randomly oriented fibrils about 200A in diameter. Pristine (CH)x is an insulator, but when chemically doped, its conductivity approaches that of the metals. It has been proposed as a component in Schottky diodes and solar cells and it has potential as the cathode in polymer-electrode batteries. Films of (CH)x doped with Li(+), C104(-) and CF3SO3(-) have been used as the anode and cathode in electrochemical cells employing a poly(ethylene oxide)-complex electrolyte and also in non-aqueous liquid electrolyte cells. Flocculent (CH)x is produced by bubbling acetylene gas through a catalyst solution, but as films were required for the battery studies associated with this work, a variation of the Shirakawa process was employed. In this method, purified acetylene is admitted into an evacuated reaction vessel containing dissolved catalysts at low temperature. The films formed are removed in a controlled atmosphere box. The details of this method are described in this report.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Nov 01, 1985
- Accession Number
- ADA173711
Entities
People
- A. Underdown W.
- A. W. Johnson
Organizations
- Defence Research and Development Canada