A Novel Conductive, Redox Polymer for Battery and Applications

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This Small Business Innovation Research (SBIR) Phase II project is in the general area of analytical and surface chemistry and in the subfields of electrochemistry and materials chemistry. The goal of this activity is to develop electrically conducting polymers synthesized from substituted pyrroles as materials for rechargeable battery electrodes and other applications. In the preceding Phase I research, EIC Laboratories, Inc. demonstrated that a polypyrrole (PP) copolymer could be synthesized that contained quinone pendant groups which are electrochemically accessible via the PP backbone. The company further demonstrated that in aqueous electrolytes, the presence of these quinone moieties enhanced the electrochemical capacity of the conducting polymer. In the present Phase II activity, the previous Phase I work is being extended and broadened in scope. Research tasks for the current effort include: (1) the development and optimization of new synthetic routes to substituted pyrrole monomers; (2) the synthesis and evaluation of new PP copolymers including optimization of the doping potential and doping level, characterization of the electronic conductivity of substituted PP films, investigation of the pH dependence of the pendant quinone moieties, and examination of the kinetics of electrocatalysis by these quinones; and (3) investigation of applications of derivatized polypyrroles in battery technology, sensor electrodes, catalysis, and conductivity redox polymers. The new materials derived from this research could enjoy broad, technologically important applications.