Microstructures of conducting polymers: Patterning and actuation study

• Patterning of microstructures of three conducting polymers [polypyrrole, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) or poly(3,4-propylenedioxythiophene)] are done.
• Actuation of these microstructures observed under microscope.
• Patterning is done in two electrode cell setup while actuation is done in three electrode cell setup.

The conducting polymers exhibit electrochemically driven expansion and shrinkage due to ingress and egress of dopant ions in response to potential applied. In this paper, we report on patterning of microdots and microsquares of polypyrrole (PPy), poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PEDOT) and poly(3,3-dihexyl-3-4-dihydro-2H-thieno[3,4b][1,4]-dioxepine PProDOT(Hx)2 and their behaviour under voltage change. Stainless steel mesh was used to deposit microdots and inkjet-printed cellulose girds were used to deposit microsqures of the conducting polymers on the ITO surface. It was found that PPy showed distinct actuation in the z direction while colour change was prominent in the case of PEDOT and PProDOT(Hx)2.