Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is an air cathode having a porous membrane with at least one hydrophobic surface that contacts a conductive catalytic film that comprises single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) where the nanotubes are in intimate electrical contact. The conductive film can include fullerenes, metals, metal alloys, metal oxides, or electroactive polymers in addition to the SWNTs. In other embodiments of the invention the air cathode is a component of a metal-air battery or a fuel cell.

Abstract: A degradable polymeric nanotube (NT) dispersant comprises a multiplicity of NT associative groups that are connected to a polymer backbone by a linking group where there are cleavable groups within the polymer backbone and/or the linking groups such that on a directed change of conditions, bond breaking of the cleavable groups results in residues from the degradable polymeric NT dispersant in a manner where the associative groups are uncoupled from other associative groups, rendering the associative groups monomelic in nature. The degradable polymeric nanotube (NT) dispersant can be combined with carbon NTs to form a NT dispersion that can be deposited to form a NT film, or other structure, by air brushing, electrostatic spraying, ultrasonic spraying, ink-jet printing, roll-to-roll coating, or dip coating. The deposition can render a NT film that is of a uniform thickness or is patterned with various thicknesses.

Abstract: A degradable polymeric nanotube (NT) dispersant comprises a multiplicity of NT associative groups that are connected to a polymer backbone by a linking group where there are cleavable groups within the polymer backbone and/or the linking groups such that on a directed change of conditions, bond breaking of the cleavable groups results in residues from the degradable polymeric NT dispersant in a manner where the associative groups are uncoupled from other associative groups, rendering the associative groups monomelic in nature. The degradable polymeric nanotube (NT) dispersant can be combined with carbon NTs to form a NT dispersion that can be deposited to form a NT film, or other structure, by air brushing, electrostatic spraying, ultrasonic spraying, ink-jet printing, roll-to-roll coating, or dip coating. The deposition can render a NT film that is of a uniform thickness or is patterned with various thicknesses.

Abstract: A degradable polymeric nanotube (NT) dispersant comprises a multiplicity of NT associative groups that are connected to a polymer backbone by a linking group where there are cleavable groups within the polymer backbone and/or the linking groups such that on a directed change of conditions, bond breaking of the cleavable groups results in residues from the degradable polymeric NT dispersant in a manner where the associative groups are uncoupled from other associative groups, rendering the associative groups monomelic in nature. The degradable polymeric nanotube (NT) dispersant can be combined with carbon NTs to form a NT dispersion that can be deposited to form a NT film, or other structure, by air brushing, electrostatic spraying, ultrasonic spraying, ink-jet printing, roll-to-roll coating, or dip coating. The deposition can render a NT film that is of a uniform thickness or is patterned with various thicknesses.

Abstract: A degradable polymeric nanotube (NT) dispersant comprises a multiplicity of NT associative groups that are connected to a polymer backbone by a linking group where there are cleavable groups within the polymer backbone and/or the linking groups such that on a directed change of conditions, bond breaking of the cleavable groups results in residues from the degradable polymeric NT dispersant in a manner where the associative groups are uncoupled from other associative groups, rendering the associative groups monomelic in nature. The degradable polymeric nanotube (NT) dispersant can be combined with carbon NTs to form a NT dispersion that can be deposited to form a NT film, or other structure, by air brushing, electrostatic spraying, ultrasonic spraying, ink-jet printing, roll-to-roll coating, or dip coating. The deposition can render a NT film that is of a uniform thickness or is patterned with various thicknesses.

Abstract: A degradable polymeric nanotube (NT) dispersant comprises a multiplicity of NT associative groups that are connected to a polymer backbone by a linking group where there are cleavable groups within the polymer backbone and/or the linking groups such that on a directed change of conditions, bond breaking of the cleavable groups results in residues from the degradable polymeric NT dispersant in a manner where the associative groups are uncoupled from other associative groups, rendering the associative groups monomelic in nature. The degradable polymeric nanotube (NT) dispersant can be combined with carbon NTs to form a NT dispersion that can be deposited to form a NT film, or other structure, by air brushing, electrostatic spraying, ultrasonic spraying, ink-jet printing, roll-to-roll coating, or dip coating. The deposition can render a NT film that is of a uniform thickness or is patterned with various thicknesses.

Abstract: A composition of matter comprises a polymer with a fully conjugated backbone or a conjugated block with a plurality of binding groups connected to the backbone by a linking moiety. The binding groups permit a non-covalent binding to a graphitic surface such as a carbon nanotube. A composition of matter where an electroactive polymer with binding groups connected to a conjugated backbone through a linking moiety is bound to carbon nanotubes. Such compositions can be used for a variety of applications using electroactive materials.

Abstract: An electrochromic device (ECD) includes an electrochromic cell and, optionally, one or more additional electrochromic cells where all cells are parallel, and where at least one of the electrodes of one of the cells comprises a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT) film The electrochromic cells allow the control of transmittance of two or more different portions of the electro-magnetic spectrum through the ECD. One cell can control the transmittance of visible radiation while the other cell can control the transmittance of IR radiation. The ECD can be employed as a “smart window” to control the heat and light transmission through the window. The ECD can be in the form of a laminate that can be added to an existing window.

Abstract: A degradable polymeric nanotube (NT) dispersant comprises a multiplicity of NT associative groups that are connected to a polymer backbone by a linking group where there are cleavable groups within the polymer backbone and/or the linking groups such that on a directed change of conditions, bond breaking of the cleavable groups results in residues from the degradable polymeric NT dispersant in a manner where the associative groups are uncoupled from other associative groups, rendering the associative groups monomelic in nature. The degradable polymeric nanotube (NT) dispersant can be combined with carbon NTs to form a NT dispersion that can be deposited to form a NT film, or other structure, by air brushing, electrostatic spraying, ultrasonic spraying, ink-jet printing, roll-to-roll coating, or dip coating. The deposition can render a NT film that is of a uniform thickness or is patterned with various thicknesses.

Abstract: An embodiment of the invention is an air cathode having a porous membrane with at least one hydrophobic surface that contacts a conductive catalytic film that comprises single walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) where the nanotubes are in intimate electrical contact. The conductive film can include fullerenes, metals, metal alloys, metal oxides, or electroactive polymers in addition to the SWNTs. In other embodiments of the invention the air cathode is a component of a metal-air battery or a fuel cell.

Abstract: A family of N-substituted 3,4-alkylenedioxypyrrole includes monomers for of formula (I) electropolymerization to conjugated polymers and key intermediates for the preparation of the monomers. The preparation of the //-substituted 3,4-alkylenedioxypyrroles is carried out via a synthetic intermediate, an ester substituted dihydroxypyrrole. The synthetic method to prepare the //-substituted 3,4-alkylenedioxypyrrole intermediates and ultimately the N-substituted 3,4-alkylenedioxypyrrole monomers begins with a reaction to form the ester substituted dihydroxypyrrole.

Abstract: Stable charge-transfer doping of carbon nanotubes is achieved using a dopant containing polymer (DCP) wherein the DCP has a multiplicity of dopant moieties that are capable of donating electrons to or accepting electrons from the nanotubes linked to a polymer. The DCP has a sufficient number of dopant moieties connected to the polymer such that when charge transfer equilibrium between a particular dopant moiety and the nanotubes is in a dissociated, or dedoped state, the dopant moiety remains tethered by a linking moiety to the polymer and remains in the vicinity of the nanotubes as the polymer remains bound to the tube by at least one bound dopant of the DCP. The linking groups are selected to permit the presentation of the dopant moieties to the nanotubes in a manner that is unencumbered by the polymer backbone and can undergo charge transfer doping.

Abstract: A composition of matter comprises a polymer with a fully conjugated backbone or a conjugated block with a plurality of binding groups connected to the backbone by a linking moiety. The binding groups permit a non-covalent binding to a graphitic surface such as a carbon nanotube. A composition of matter where an electroactive polymer with binding groups connected to a conjugated backbone through a linking moiety is bound to carbon nanotubes. Such compositions can be used for a variety of applications using electroactive materials.

Abstract: A family of N-substituted 3,4-alkylenedioxypyrrole includes monomers for of formula (I) electropolymerization to conjugated polymers and key intermediates for the preparation of the monomers. The preparation of the //-substituted 3,4-alkylenedioxypyrroles is carried out via a synthetic intermediate, an ester substituted dihydroxypyrrole. The synthetic method to prepare the //-substituted 3,4-alkylenedioxypyrrole intermediates and ultimately the N-substituted 3,4-alkylenedioxypyrrole monomers begins with a reaction to form the ester substituted dihydroxypyrrole.

Abstract: A supramolecular polymer and its composite with carbon nanotubes, CNTs, are described. The supramolecular polymer is an ensemble of precursors that independently contain “sticky feet” for non-covalent binding to carbon nanotube surfaces and associative groups. There is at least one of the associative groups covalently bound to each of the precursor and there is at least one covalently connecting moiety connecting associative groups within a precursor or connecting an associative group to a linker to a “sticky foot” in a precursor. When the associative groups are in a dissociative state, the supramolecular polymer precursors and CNTs can be combined to form a dispersion. Upon promotion, the dissociated associative groups in the dispersion can associate to yield a CNT/supramolecular polymer composite.