ABSTRACT
Conducting polymers that can be switched between an insulating neutral state and a conducting doped state are of interest for charge-storage applications such as secondary batteries. The authors report on the fabrication of an all-polymer battery incorporating derivatized polythiophene films electropolymerized onto graphite-coated polymeric supports and a polymer gel electrolyte film. The cells had discharge voltages of about 2.4 V and capacities of 9.5 to 11.5 mAh g-1. The elimination of any metallic components or liquids and the lightweight and flexible construction provide a unique alternative for secondary battery technology.
Subject(s)
Electric Power Supplies , Polymers/chemistry , Thiophenes/chemistry , Electric Conductivity , Electrolytes/chemistry , Equipment Design , Solvents/chemistryABSTRACT
Electron paramagnetic resonance is used to detect the formation of free radicals caused by exposure to ultraviolet radiation in chemically untreated rabbit skin. A fast jump in EPR signal level, occurring over a few seconds, is observed immediately after a skin sample is exposed to UV. This is followed by a slower increase toward an elevated steady-state signal over a period of hours as the skin is continuously exposed to a UV light source. Upon cessation of UV light exposure, EPR signal levels undergo an abrupt drop followed by a slower decay toward natural levels. Elevated free radical concentrations following UV exposure are found to persist for several hours in whole skin. These results are consistent with time-resolved EPR measurements of photoinduced radicals in various natural melanins.