Proceedings of SPIE, the International Society for Optical Engineering/Proceedings of SPIE · 2003 · 15 citations · 0 references
Natural SciencesMaterials EngineeringMaterials ScienceElectrochemistryPolymer ChemistryPolymer MaterialsConducting PolymersConductive PolymersElectrode MaterialsPolymer CharacterizationPolymer PhysicsPolymer Thin FilmsConductivity In PolymersElectroactive Polymer ActuatorsElectroactive PolymersPoly(3, 4-Ethylenedioxythiophene)Polymer ActuatorsPolymer ElectrodesPolypyrroleSynthesis Of Conducting Polymers
Freestanding films of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiopene), PEDOT, were synthesized electrochemically from a solution containing EDOT monomer, tetrabutylammonium hexafluorophosphate, and water in propylene carbonate. The films were tested mechanically under constant stresses ranging from 0.6 to 2.1 MPa and subjected to various electrochemical waveforms while immersed in a bath containing propylene carbonate and an electrolyte. The characterization resulted in observations of ultimate linear strains of 2%, strain rates of 0.003 Hz, and strain to charge densities of 4 x 10<sup>-10</sup> m<sup>3</sup>/C, comparable to the conventional conducting polymer polypyrrole. In addition to the quantitative analysis, evidence of both anionic and cationic intercalation into the polymer is presented with a discussion of prospective mechanisms and consequences.