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CPP: Fachverband Chemische Physik und Polymerphysik

CPP 8: Responsive and Adaptive Systems

CPP 8.7: Talk

Monday, March 27, 2023, 12:30–12:45, ZEU 255

Humidity & Electrochemical Switching of Mixed Conducting Polymer Films — •Sabine Ludwigs — IPOC - Functional Polymers, Institute of Polymer Chemistry, University of Stuttgart

Though electrochemistry of conducting polymers is a rather old topic(1), only recently conducting polymers have received renewed attention as inherently mixed-ionic-electronic conductors for a number of emerging switchable technologies including actuators, wetting on surfaces and electrically switchable metasurfaces. One of the work-horses of the community remains poly(ethylenedioxythiophene) :poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS). While typically known as synthetic metal with application as transparent flexible electrodes, the material is a mixed conductor and shows ionic conductivity which is strongly affected by humidity.(2) The humidity dependence of the PSS polyelectrolyte phase together with the electroactive nature of the PEDOT can be used to create multifunctional and multiresponsive materials and films. A recent example from my group is the preparation of intelligent humidity-triggered bilayer actuators whose bending behavior (curvature) can be explained by the humidity-dependent mechanical behavior of the constituents.(3) In collaboration with the Giessen Group the electrochemical stimuli were further used to switch nanoantennas on and off between the metallic and the insulating state.(4)

Ref: (1) Chemical Reviews 2010, 110, 4724.(2) ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, 2020, 12, 6742. (3) Advanced Materials 2021, 202007982. (4) Science 2021, 374, 612.