Electrodeposition of conducting polymer fibers

Conducting polymers are materials that possess the electrical conductivity of metals while still retaining the mechanical properties such as flexibility of traditional polymers. Polypyrrole (PPy) is one of the more commonly studied electrically conducting polymers due to its high conductivity and stability in ambient conditions. A one step electrochemical process for growing macroscopic conducting polymer fibers previously described in Li et al's article (Science, 1993) was used to grow PPy fibers. Based on a schematic of the electrochemical flow cell used in the electrodeposition process, a physical electrochemical flow cell was constructed. Several trials were carried out in an attempt to repeatedly grow polymer fibers. The fibers grown from successful trials were analyzed and characterized by qualities such as length, diameter, surface texture, conductivity, and elasticity. There is room for further study involving optimization of parameters such as temperature, monomer concentration, and flow velocity of the monomer solution.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2004

Author dc:creator

• Chen, Angela Y. (Angela Ying-Ju), 1982-

Advisor dc:contributor.advisor

• Ian W. Hunter.

• Mechanical Engineering.

Statement dc:rights

• M.I.T. theses are protected by copyright. They may be viewed from this source for any purpose, but reproduction or distribution in any format is prohibited without written permission. See provided URL for inquiries about permission.

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://dspace.mit.edu/handle/1721.1/7582

Language dc:language.iso

eng

Handle dc:identifier.uri

http://hdl.handle.net/1721.1/32829

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/32829