Decomposable S-tetrazine based polymers for single walled carbon nanotube applications
A process for purifying semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (sc-SWCNTs) extracted with a conjugated polymer, the process comprising exchanging the conjugated polymer with an s-tetrazine based polymer in a processed sc-SWCNT dispersion that comprises the conjugated polymer associated with the sc-SWCNTs. The process can be used for production of thin film transistors and chemical sensors. In addition, disclosed herein is use of an s-tetrazine based polymer for purification of semiconducting single-walled carbon nanotubes (sc-SWCNTs).
1. A process for producing a chemical sensor that detects one or more chemicals in the ppt to ppb range, the process comprising:
a) applying a dispersion of a sc-SWCNT/s-tetrazine based conjugated polymer composite to a substrate;
b) applying heat and/or UV light to decompose the s-tetrazine based conjugated polymer; and
c) removing the resulting decomposition products.
2. The process of claim 1 , wherein the sensor has a lower detection limit of from 4 ppt to 100 ppb.
3. The process of claim 1 , wherein the one or more chemicals is gaseous ammonia or gaseous nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ).
4. The process of claim 1 , wherein the s-tetrazine based polymer has the following structure:
where A is O, S, Se or C═C; n is an integer from 1 to 4; R 1 is independently H, F, CN or a C1-C20 linear or branched aliphatic group; Ar is one or more substituted or unsubstituted aromatic units; and, m is an integer 5 or greater.
5. The process of claim 1 , wherein the s-tetrazine based polymer is PBDTFTz:
6. The process of claim 1 , wherein the s-tetrazine based polymer is PDTSTTz:
7. The process of claim 1 , wherein the s-tetrazine based polymer is PCPDTFTz:
in which Ar=cyclopenta[2,1-b;3.4-b′]dithiophene.
8. The process of claim 1 , wherein the conjugated polymer comprises a polyfluorene or polythiophene.