Unique Conducting Polymer-Coated, Metallized Microporous Membranes with High Electro-Osmotic Function for Chem-Bio Protection

In unrelated, prior and ongoing work, this firm has already developed unique, double-sided, metallized (Au, Pt, etc.) thin, highly flexible, microporous membranes, used as electrodes in unique electrochromic devices. The active electrochromic material, on either side of the membrane, is a Conducting Polymer (CP). These microporous membrane electrodes are ideal candidates for electro-osmotic membranes for the CW/BW agent-protective uses. Among others, their features include: (i) Ideal 2-electrode mode operation. (ii) High differential electric fields with dissimilar CPs on either side. (iii) High capacity for optimization of electro-osmotic capacity through parameters such as CP/dopant identity, doping level and thickness; type, porosity and thickness of membrane material. (iv) Flexibility, thinness and drapability. (v) Ability to pattern/segment the metal layer, enabling greatly reduced power consumption. (vi) Known ability of CPs to protect against as well as sense CW/BW agents. (vii) Very low voltages and currents (typically +/- 1.5 VDC or 0.1 mA/cm2 ). In the proposed work, these membrane electrodes will be further developed and optimized. They will be tested with CW and BW agent models, used in this firm’s prior work with CW/BW agent destruction. A collaborative effort with the Regional Center for Bio-Defense and other organizations is envisaged.