Molecular Crystals and Liquid Crystals, Vol.374, 513-520, 2002
Soft actuators based on poly(3-alkyl thiophene) films upon electrochemical oxidation and reduction
Expansion and contraction in poly(3-alkylthiophene), with alkyl = hexyl and dodecyl, films upon electrochemical oxidation and reduction are measured. The expansion of films is found to consist of two components, which are responding to electrochemical cycle and creeping. The expansion ratio and the creeping are discussed taking the morphology of films into consideration, and compared with the case of polyaniline and polypyrrole.