Abstract: This invention pertains generally to the field of light-emitting diodes (LEDs). More particularly, this invention relates to polymer LEDs which offer high brightness, high efficiency and extended operating life, and which comprise (a) a transparent hole-injecting anode layer; (b) an emissive layer comprising an electroluminescent polymer; and, (c) an electron-injecting cathode layer; wherein said cathode layer comprises an ultra-thin layer of alkaline earth metal (such as calcium, strontium and barium) having a thickness of about 100 Å or less, typically from about 15 to about 100 Å.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to fabricating two-terminal electric microswitches comprising thin semiconductor films and using these microswitches to construct column-row (x-y) addressable microswitch matrices. These microswitches are two terminal devices through which electric current and electric potential (or their derivatives or integrals) can be switched on and off by the magnitude or the polarity of the external bias. The microswitches are made from semiconducting thin films in a electrode/semiconductor/electrode, thin film configuration. Column-row addressable electric microswitch matrices can be made in large areas, with high pixel density. Such matrices can be integrated with a sensor layer with electronic properties which vary in response to external physical conditions (such as photon radiation, temperature, pressure, magnetic field and so on), thereby forming a variety of detector matrices.

Abstract: A film including polyaniline in the emeraldine salt form (PANI) and poly(2-acrylamido-2 methyl-1-propanesulfonic acid) (PAAMPSA) as a counterion and optionally a water-soluble host polymer, the film is useful in an electronic device such as pixellated displays.

Abstract: In pixellated electronic devices such as polymer emissive displays (PEDs), good operating lifetime is achieved through the use of a high resistivity buffer layer of conductive organic polymer between the anode layer and the photoactive layer. The improved high resistivity conductive layer gives long lifetime with reduced or no cross-talk and current leakage between neighboring pixels.

Abstract: Materials and construction for a tamper indicating radio frequency identification (RFID) label are provided to permit the destruction of the label or its properties in the event of attempts to remove the label from a surface to which it has been applied. An adhesion modifying coating is applied to a label surface or portions thereof to affect the relative adhesion strengths between different layers or areas of the label. The adhesion modifying coating can be applied in selected patterns to achieve differential adhesion strengths and resulting differential separation of the label from a surface on which it has been applied.

Abstract: Organic photodetectors with switchable photosensitivity are achieved using organic photoactive layers in electrode/organic/electrode structures. The photosensitivity can be switched on and off by the biasing voltage across the detectors. The photocurrent can be probed with a read-out circuit in the loop. These photodetectors can be arranged in linear arrays or in two-dimensional matrices that function as high performance, linear or two-dimensional image sensors. These image sensors can achieve fill color or selected color detection capability.

Abstract: The instant invention relates to a coating, which can be applied to one or both sides of a flexible resin film, including flexible printed circuits made therefrom, in order to impart acceptable flammability characteristics to the material. The coating has the properties of being: (1) acceptable from the standpoint of improving the flammability rating to the product, (2) amenable to high speed production, in that it has a relatively fast curing rate, (3) directly applicable to the surface of the product and, in order to simplify the manufacturing process, it does not require pretreatment of the surface, and (4) acceptable from an aesthetics / appearance standpoint.

Abstract: Organic photodetectors with switchable photosensitivity are achieved using organic photoactive layers in electrode/organic/electrode structures. The photosensitivity can be switched on and off by the biasing voltage across the detectors, the switching voltage imparting photosensitivity above 1 mA/W at a preselected operating bias and near zero photosensitivity at a cut-off bias substantially equivalent in magnitude to the built-in potential of the photodetector. The photocurrent can be probled with a read-out circuit in the loop. These photodetectors can be arranged in linear arrays or in two-dimensional matrices that function as high performance, linear or two-dimensional image sensors.

Abstract: The addition of a highly polarizable additive such as an organic anionic surfactant to an electrically active polymer improves the electrical properties of the polymer. When such an additive is added to an electroluminescent organic polymer this mixture can be used in diodes having an anode contacting a layer of this mixture as the active light-emitting layer and an air-stable metal cathode having a work function larger than 4 eV. The external efficiency and brightness versus voltage are significantly improved compared to results obtained with the same electroluminescent polymer used alone with high work function (>4.0 eV) metal cathodes.

Abstract: Optical quality transparent conductors such as bodies, films and coatings formed from substituted and unsubstituted polyanilines in nonconductive substrates such as polymers or polymer plus solvents with protonic acid are disclosed as are methods of forming such conductors from fluid forms of the polyaniline/substrate/acid mixtures.

Abstract: The addition of a highly polarizable additive such as an organic anionic surfactant to an electrically active polymer improves the electrical properties of the polymer. When such an additive is added to an electroluminescent organic polymer this mixture can be used in diodes having an anode contacting a layer of this mixture as the active light-emitting layer and an air-stable metal cathode having a work function larger than 4 eV. The external efficiency and brightness versus voltage are significantly improved compared to results obtained with the same electroluminescent polymer used alone with high work function (>4.0 eV) metal cathodes.

Abstract: Electrochemical light emitting devices are disclosed which include a composite material in contact with two electrodes. The composite material is an admixture of ionic species and an `immobile` semiconductor and a high-boiling gel-forming liquid. The presence of high-boiling gel-forming liquid improves the efficiency of the devices. The semiconductor is capable of supporting both p- and n-type carriers and having a doping profile which can be dynamically changed in a controlled fashion through reversible electrochemical oxidation and reduction. Devices having this structure may be used to generate electrochemically induced p-n junctions, thereby providing a new means of exploiting the light emitting properties of such junctions under an applied voltage. Systems and methods for generating useful levels of light employing these devices are also disclosed.

Abstract: Long-lived organic light-emitting diodes are achieved by positioning a layer comprising polyaniline in the emeraldine salt form directly contiguous with the anode side of the active light-emitting layer. Particular advantages are achieved if the emeraldine salt-containing layer has a sheet resistance of at least about 10.sup.3 ohms per square which can be achieved by casting the layer from solution in a polar solvent, most particularly, DMSO. The LED's can find advantageous application in displays where they exhibit long life and marked resistance to blurring, spreading or other degradations over time.

Abstract: Compositions are disclosed comprising electrically conducting polyaniline and particular substituted aromatic compounds that simultaneously form hydrogen bonds and ring-ring interactions with, respectively, the NH-groups and the six-membered rings of the conducting polyanilines. The present conducting polyaniline compositions show drastically enhanced processibility and their blends with insulating or semiconducting materials exhibit significantly improved electrical properties.

Abstract: A new class of binders for binding finely divided inert inorganic molding particles when shaped into objects by known mechanical shaping techniques such as injection molding. The novel binders are solid polymer solutions containing a major fraction of a low molecular weight solid relatively non-volatile chemical as solvent in which is substantially dissolved a minor fraction of at least one high molecular weight solid polymer. The solid polymer solution binders when molten are homogeneous solutions and can be readily uniformly mixed with the usual inorganic molding particles into a readily flowable mixture which can be shaped and solidified. When solidified, the polymer and solid chemical remain a substantially homogeneous solution without appreciable phase separation.

Abstract: Optical quality transparent conductors such as bodies, films and coatings formed from substituted and unsubstituted polyanilines in nonconductive substrates such as polymers or polymer plus solvents with protonic acid are disclosed as are methods of forming such conductors from fluid forms of the polyaniline/substrate/acid mixtures.

Abstract: Compositions of electrically conductive substituted and unsubstituted polyanilines in nonconductive substrates such as polymers or polymer plus solvents with protonic acids are disclosed as are methods of forming such compositions and use of same to form conductive articles.

Abstract: Colored, electrically conductive compositions comprising substituted and unsubstituted polyanilines and functionalized protonic acids and blends with insulating and semiconducting substrate polymers or polymers plus solvents are disclosed as are methods of forming colored electrically conductive articles of polyaniline/substrate/acid mixtures.

Abstract: Polyanilines are provided that are soluble and that form crystaline solids upon precipitation. The solid polyanilines are electrically conductive, soluble, and can be fabricated into various shaped articles for use in, for example, batteries, electrodes, photovoltaic cells, semi-conductor devices and the like.

Abstract: A method of emulsion polymerization of aniline or substituted anilines for making substituted or unsubstituted homopolymers and co-polymers of aniline. The method includes formation of an emulsion of aniline monomers, polar solvent, non-polar or weakly polar solvent and functionalized protonic acid, which is selected for its ability to perform two functions: acting as a surfactant and acting as a protonating agent (dopant) in producing an electrically conducting polymer. Then, an oxidant is added to polymerize the ingredients of the emulsion. This method provides polyaniline particles of highly crystalline and oriented morphologies of controlled aspect ratios.