Conducting polymer actuator enhancement through microstructuring

Electroactive conducting polymers, such as polypyrrole, polyaniline, and polythiophenes are currently studied as novel biologically inspired actuators. The actuation mechanisms in these materials are based on the diffusion of ions in and out of the polymer film. Giving ions more access to the center of the films by inducing holes on its surface can improve strain rates. A unique surface templating technique using breath figures has been developed for poly (3-hexylthiophene). Spherical holes form on the surface of polymer films during the drop casting process if moist air was blown over the top of the film. This technique has been used to generate 0.8-5 /m holes on the surface of poly(3-hexylthiophene) films. It can also be used to create columns 3 to 10 /tm in height in polypyrrole. Free standing spongy films (10-35 iLm in thickness) of poly(3-hexylthiophene) were generated using this technique and the influence of the additional surface area on the actuation of poly(3-hexylthiophene) and polypyrrole films has been characterized.

Department dc:contributor.department

Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Dept. of Mechanical Engineering.

Grantor dc:publisher

Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Year dc:date.issued

2007

Author dc:creator

• Pillai, Priam Vasudevan

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/1721.1/39881

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:dspace.mit.edu:1721.1/39881