The disclosed technology relates generally to apparatus comprising conductive polymers and more particularly to tag and tag devices comprising a redox-active polymer film, and method of using and manufacturing the same. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a substrate and a conductive structure formed on the substrate which includes a layer of redox-active polymer film having mobile ions and electrons. The conductive structure further includes a first terminal and a second terminal configured to receive an electrical signal therebetween, where the layer of redox-active polymer is configured to conduct an electrical current generated by the mobile ions and the electrons in response to the electrical signal. The apparatus additionally includes a detection circuit operatively coupled to the conductive structure and configured to detect the electrical current flowing through the conductive structure.

A method for inhibiting whisker growth on a metallic substrate susceptible to whisker growth (e.g., tin, zinc, cadmium, indium, silver, lead, aluminum, gold, aluminum, gold, and alloys thereof), the method comprising coating a surface of the metallic substrate with a charge dissipative (CD) polymer, or more particularly, an electrostatically dissipative (ESD) polymer, that inhibits whisker growth on said surface under conditions where whisker growth would otherwise occur. In some embodiments, the CD or ESD polymer does not possess the necessary strength and/or thickness to function as a physical barrier for whisker growth. In particular embodiments, the CD or ESD polymer prevents the onset of whisker formation or growth, thus not requiring the CD or ESD polymer to function as a physical barrier.

An improved capacitor is provided wherein the capacitor comprising an anode foil; and a conductive polymer layer on the anode foil. The conductive polymer layer comprises first particles comprising conductive polymer and polyanion and second particles comprising the conductive polymer and the polyanion wherein the first particles have an average particle diameter of at least 1 micron to no more than 10 microns. The second particles have an average particle diameter of at least 1 nm to no more than 600 nm.

The present disclosure provides a semiconductor compound, which includes a metal complex unit and a conjugate unit. The metal complex unit includes a coordination center and a plurality of ligands. The coordination center is a metal ion or a metal atom, and the ligands are linked with the coordination center. The conjugate unit is linked with the metal complex unit by covalent bond.

Disclosed are compositions of electroactive polymers (EAPs) having improved performance stability. In the EAP compositions, a cross-linked polymer is deposited onto the surface of the EAP by vapor-deposition methods. Upon contact with an aqueous solution (e.g., an aqueous electrolyte solution), the vapor-deposited polymeric network becomes a hydrogel that encapsulates the EAPs. By modulating precursors and vapor deposition conditions, the mesh size of the resultant hydrogel coatings can be controlled to accommodate the key species that interact with the EAPs.

Electrode materials and binder materials are used for lithium cells, such as lithium ion cells. To optimize the specific power [W/kg] or power density [W/l] and specific energy [Wh/kg] or energy density [Wh/l], at least one electrically conducting, polymeric binder is used which is selected from the group consisting of polyphenylenes, polypyrroles, polyanilines, polythiophenes and lithium salts thereof. The at least one electrically conducting, polymeric binder is used in a lithium cell.

This invention relates to compositions of conducting polymers and their producing methods and applications in sensing technology. The present conducting polymer comprises an electron deficient and an electron rich building block in an alternated repeating unit which can function as sensors to detect, qualify or quantify analytes in fluid and exhibit chemiresistive property and stable performance in normal room temperature and air pressure. In one embodiment, the present invention provides compositions of conducting polymers and devices comprising the present compositions or conducting polymers for sensor application. In another embodiment, the present invention provides methods of detecting target molecules using compositions, conducting polymers or devices of the present invention. The target molecules include without limitation volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which are indicative of the presence or stage or a disease, or indicative of a health status of a subject.

A conductive composition comprising a conductive polymer (A), a water-soluble polymer (B), and a solvent (C1), wherein: the water-soluble polymer (B) comprises a water-soluble polymer (B11) represented by formula (11), and an amount of a water-soluble polymer (B2) represented by formula (2) as the water-soluble polymer (B) is 0.15% by mass or less, based on a total mass of the conductive composition:

##STR00001##

wherein R.sup.1 denotes a linear or branched alkyl group with 6 to 20 carbon atoms, each of R.sup.4 and R.sup.5 independently denotes a methyl or ethyl group, R.sup.6 denotes a hydrophilic group, R.sup.7 denotes a hydrogen atom or a methyl group, Y.sup.1 denotes a single bond, S, S(O), C(O)O or O, Z denotes a cyano group or a hydroxy group, each of p1 and q denotes an average number of repetitions, and is a number of from 1 to 50, and m denotes a number of from 1 to 5.

A composition which is useful for producing a light emitting device having excellent luminance life is provided. The composition contains a primary fluorinated alcohol represented by the formula (1), a secondary fluorinated alcohol represented by the formula (1) and an electron injectable compound or an electron transportable compound, wherein the content of the secondary fluorinated alcohol is 0.01% by mass to 0.75% by mass with respect to the total content of the primary fluorinated alcohol and the secondary fluorinated alcohol:
C.sub.nH.sub.2nm+1F.sub.mOH(1)
C.sub.nH.sub.2nm+1F.sub.mOH(1)
In the formula (1), n represents an integer of 1 to 10, and m is an integer satisfying 1m2n+1. In the formula (1), n represents an integer of 3 to 10, and m is an integer satisfying 1m2n+1.

Provided are a methacrylic resin having high heat resistance, highly controlled birefringence, and excellent color tone and transparency, and a production method, a molded article, and an optical or automotive component of the methacrylic resin. The methacrylic resin includes N-substituted maleimide monomer-derived structural units (B) in a main chain thereof in a proportion of 5 mass % to 40 mass %. The N-substituted maleimide monomer-derived structural units (B) include a structural unit represented by formula (1). The methacrylic resin has a glass transition temperature of higher than 120 C. and not higher than 160 C. The content of components that exhibit light absorption at a wavelength of 400 nm in methanol-soluble content of the methacrylic resin is more than 0 mass % and not more than 2 mass % as calculated in terms of N-phenylmaleimide.