Preparation of conductive polymers from stabilized precursor solutions

摘要

Conductive polymers are prepared from a stabilized solution containing a monomer, an Fe(III) oxidizing agent, and a mixed solvent. The solvents are selected to stabilize the Fe(III) oxidizing agent and monomer in solution while allowing highly conducting polymers to be produced upon evaporating the lower-boiling solvent. The higher-boiling solvent does not appreciably complex with Fe(III), while the lower-boiling solvent forms a weak complex with Fe(III). The mixed-solvent system of the present invention may be used for preparing a conductive polymer counter electrode in a solid tantalum capacitor by polymerizing the monomer inside a porous tantalum pellet.