Sunday, December 17, 2006

US Patent 7147966 - Conducting Polymer Coating For Nanotube Array

http://www.freepatentsonline.com/7147966.pdf

Intensive study of conducting polymers began in the 1970's and has resulted in several applications in batteries, sensors, and electrochromic displays. As taught by this patent, forming such conducting polymers as surface coatings to nanotube arrays allows for further applications in batteries and fuel cells with greater charge retention characteristics. Claim 1 reads:

1. A conductive carbon nanotube electrode material comprising: a porous carbon nanotube substrate comprising a plurality of longitudinally aligned linear carbon nanotubules in a three-dimensional array; and a uniform surface coating comprising an electrically conducting polymer present as a film on an entire surface and length of individual nanotubules establishing electrical continuity by producing continuous contact throughout the three-dimensional array and cohesively holding together the nanotubules in the three-dimensional array.