Conducting polymer electrochemical actuator made of high-strength three-layered composite films of polythiophene and polypyrrole

Tri-layer conducting polymer composite films of polypyrrole/polythiophene/polypyrrole have been electrochemically synthesized by successive oxidation of pyrrole in aqueous solutions and thiophene in boron trifluoride diethyl ether (BFEE)solution, respectively. One of the polypyrrole layerswas doped by a small anion of perchlorate (PPy (ClO4)) and the other onewas doped by a large anion, dodecylbenzene sulfonate (PPy (DBS)). The tri-layer filmwas deformed by electrochemical reduction and oxidation of polypyrrole layers. The polythiophene (PTh)layer provided a high strength conductive polymeric support for the actuator. A 0.4 mg composite film can reversibly raise a 10mg material (e.g. a copper wire)from the position of 0. to the position of ¡­¡¾90. at ¡¾1. 0V (versus saturated calomel electrode (SCE)), respectively, while the bi-ionic film of PPy (ClO4)/PPy (DBS)with the same weight can raise the 10 mg copper wire to only a position of ¡­¡¾25.. The movement rate of the tri-layer film was also higher than that of the bi-ionic polypyrrole film.