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  Home > JCE Print > Journal of Chemical Education > Issues > 2005  > September  >
In the Laboratory
Electropolymerized Conducting Polymer as Actuator and Sensor Device: An Undergraduate Electrochemical Laboratory Experiment
María T. Cortés and Juan C. Moreno
Department of Chemistry, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Columbia
Cover
September 2005
Vol. 82 No. 9
p. 1372
Abstract
A trilayer formed by two conducting polymer films sandwiched around an adhesive polymer layer works as actuator and sensor simultaneously. This device can be bent up to ±180° and it can be used as a sensing device of physical chemistry parameters such as cell temperature and electrolyte concentration. In this article, it is shown in a didactic way how to electrochemically synthesize ClO4–-doped polypyrrole (PPy) films, how to fabricate a trilayer device, and how to evaluate its actuating and sensing capabilities. The required materials are simple and a complicated setup is not necessary. A laboratory exercise that introduces the actuating properties of polypyrrole as well as the temperature-sensing capabilities of PPy can be used to expose students to electrochemical and smart materials principles.
Supplement
Background material on conducting polymers, a detailed experimental procedure, and a student handout are available.
*  Contents JCE2005p1372W.doc (Microsoft Word)
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JCE2005p1372W.pdf

JCE2005p1372W.zip
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*  Citation
 Cortés, María T.; Moreno, Juan C. J. Chem. Educ. 2005 82 1372.
*  Keywords
 Applications of Chemistry; Demonstrations; Electrochemistry; First-Year Undergraduate / General; Graduate Education / Research; Hands-On Learning / Manipulatives; Laboratory Instruction; Materials Science; Physical Chemistry; Polymer Chemistry; Polymerization; Undergraduate Research
*  History
 Created:
Last Updated:		 August 2, 2005
August 10, 2005
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