Conductive Polymers

Abstract

Intelligent polymer systems have the capacity to sense a variety of stimuli in the operational environment. They can further process this information and then actuate responses. The stimuli utilized may be chemical (e.g., chemical imbalance in a living system) or physical (e.g., structure exceeds a stress limit). Likewise the response actuated may be chemical (e.g., controlled release of drugs) or physical (e.g., increase in stiffness of material). The intelligent polymer structure will require energy to implement these functions, so energy conversion/storage capabilities are desirable. These latter functions could be achieved, for example, by utilizing the photovoltaic properties of polymer structures. Ideally, all of the above mentioned functions would be integrated at the molecular level. While a number of classes of polymers are capable of providing one or more intelligent functions, inherently conducting polymers (ICPs) may provide all of them. Synthesis and properties of these polymers are detailed. Their use as sensors, information processors and actuators are discussed as is the possiblity of providing an energy conversion and storage stystem.

Doped and dedoped polyaniline nanofiber based conductometric hydrogen gas sensors

“…1: middle) and finally by dissociation the polaron lattice form ( Fig. 1: bottom), resulting in high conductivity [5]. It is widely agreed that polarons are the charge carriers responsible for the high conductivity of polyaniline.…”

A layered surface acoustic wave gas sensor based on a polyaniline/In2O3nanofibre composite

“…The bipolaron form further undergoes dissociation to create a delocalized polaron lattice. A polaron can be considered as a type of electronic defect that occurs within the π orbitals of the polymer backbone, which produces the molecular asymmetry responsible for the high conductivity of doped polyaniline [8].…”

Synthesis and Characterization of Porous Polyaniline Conductive Polymers

“…PANI is also unique in the sense that it can be reversibly transformed between the conductive salt state to the nonconductive base form in the presence of an acid or base. The conductive nature of PANI is a complex phenomenon attributed to polaron charge carriers resulting (after intermediate reconfi guration) from protonation of acids, HA, producing the emeraldine salt form illustrated in Figure 1 (14) .…”