Affiliation:
1. John A. Paulson School of Engineering and Applied Sciences Harvard University Cambridge MA 02138 USA
2. College of Chemical and Biological Engineering Zhejiang University Hangzhou 310058 China
Abstract
AbstractAn aqueous emulsion of conducting polymer is commonly applied on a substrate to form a coating after drying. The coating, however, disintegrates in water. This paper reports a coating prepared using a mixture of two emulsions: an aqueous emulsion of conducting polymer, and an aqueous emulsion of hydrophobic and rubbery chains copolymerized with silane coupling agents. When applied on a substrate and dried, particles of the mixed emulsion merge into a continuous film. While the conducting polymer forms percolated nanocrystals, the silane groups crosslink the rubbery chains and interlink the rubbery chains to the substrate. The percolated nanocrystals make the coating highly conductive. The covalent network of hydrophobic polymer chains stabilizes the coating in water. The high conductivity and stability in water may enable broad applications.
Funder
Air Force Office of Scientific Research
Subject
Mechanical Engineering,Mechanics of Materials,General Materials Science