Electrochemical actuation of gilded polyaniline bilayers in aqueous acid solutions

Wen Lu; Elisabeth Smela; Benjamin R. Mattes

doi:10.1117/12.432684

16 July 2001 Electrochemical actuation of gilded polyaniline bilayers in aqueous acid solutions

Wen Lu, Elisabeth Smela, Benjamin R. Mattes

Proceedings Volume 4329, Smart Structures and Materials 2001: Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices; (2001) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.432684
Event: SPIE's 8th Annual International Symposium on Smart Structures and Materials, 2001, Newport Beach, CA, United States

Abstract

In this work, we investigated the electrochemical actuation of gilded polyaniline bilayers in acidic aqueous electrolytes. Gilding was found to be a useful method to ensure a uniform potential distribution across polyaniline films so that well-defined electrochemistry and electrochemical actuation could be obtained. Electrochemical actuation of gilded polyaniline bilayers was studied by means of bending and linear actuation. Actuation could be obtained by a number of electrical stimulation modes including cyclic voltammetry (CV), square wave potential (SWP) and square wave current (SWC). Within the potential range of -0.2 ~ 0.6 V (vs Ag/AgCl), the polyaniline films expanded upon oxidation and contracted upon reduction, which corresponds to the first redox process of polyaniline between the leucomeraldine and emaraldine oxidation states. Actuation obtained in this potential range is related to the insertion/deinsertion of the electrolyte anion upon oxidation/reduction of polyaniline. It was found that, due to the thin thickness of the gold layer, not only fast bending actuation but also linear actuation could be achieved for the resulting gilded polyaniline bilayers. Extending the applied potential to more positive potentials, polyaniline degradation and oxidation of gold layer were observed.

Citation Download Citation

Wen Lu, Elisabeth Smela, and Benjamin R. Mattes "Electrochemical actuation of gilded polyaniline bilayers in aqueous acid solutions", Proc. SPIE 4329, Smart Structures and Materials 2001: Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices, (16 July 2001); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.432684

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