p-Doping of (CH)x to the Metallic Regime with Gaseous Oxygen. Application to Oxygen Fuel Cell Type Electrodes

摘要

Trans-polyacetylene, (CH)x, can be p-doped (oxidized) to the metallic regime by gaseous oxygen in the presence of an aqueous solution of a non-oxidizing acid such as HBF4. The oxygen oxidizes the (CH)x to (CH(+y))x while the HBF4 supplies a stable fluoroborate counter anion to give a species such as (CH(+y)A(-y)x. The doping process is consistent with the reduction potentials of (CH)x and O2 in acid solution. In the absence of the acid, oxygen reacts irreversibly with the semiconducting (CH)x to destroy its conductivity.