Chemical Oxidative Polymerization Technique Research Articles

A solid state actuator based on the PEDOT/NBR system

This paper reports the fabrication of a dry type conducting polymer actuator using nitrile rubber (NBR) as the base material for a solid polymer electrolyte. Thin films of NBR (150–200 μm) were prepared by using a compression molding process. A conducting polymer, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT), was synthesized on the surface of the NBR layer by using a chemical oxidation polymerization technique, and room temperature ionic liquids (RTIL) based on imidazolium salts, e.g. 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium X [where X = BF 4 −, PF 6 −, (CF 3SO 2) 2N −], were absorbed into the composite film. The effects of the anion-size of the ionic liquids on the displacement of the actuator were examined. The displacement increased with increasing the anion-size of the ionic liquids. The cyclic voltammetric responses and the redox switching dynamics of the actuators using different ionic liquids were examined.

Dry Type Conducting Polymer Actuator Based on Polypyrrole–NBR/Ionic Liquid System

The fabrication of dry type conducting polymer actuator was presented. In the preparation of actuator system, nitrile rubber (NBR) was used as a base material of the solid polymer electrolyte. Thin films of NBR (150 ∼ 200 µm) were prepared by compression molding process. The conducting polymer, polypyrrole(PPy) was synthesized on the surface of NBR by chemical oxidation polymerization technique, and the room temperature ionic liquid, 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethyl sulfonyl)imide (BMITFSI) was introduced into the composite film. The cyclic voltammetry responses and the redox switching dynamics of PPy in NBR/ionic liquid solid polymer electrolyte were studied. The displacement of actuator was measured by laser beam.

Charge dynamics in conducting polyaniline-metal oxalate composites

Polyaniline (Pani) and its metal oxalate composites (∼10 wt.%) of trivalent metal ions of Cr, Fe, Mn, Co and Al were synthesized by chemical oxidative polymerization technique with potassium perdisulphate oxidant in aqueous sulphuric acid medium. These materials were characterized by UV-VIS and EPR spectral techniques. Their d.c. electrical conductivities at room temperature and also as a function of temperature (307-453 K) were measured by four- probe technique. Presence of radical cation/polaron transition was indicated by UV- VIS absorption peak and EPR signals. Further, a close correlation existed between the conductivities and EPR parameters such as line width and peak ratio, which demonstrated that both mobile and fixed spins are involved in these composites. The dependence of conductivity on temperature, when analysed graphically by VRH, GB and TC mechanisms, pointed out that VRH is the predominant charge transport mechanism in these materials.