DOPING-INDUCED VOLUME CHANGE IN A PI-CONJUGATED CONDUCTING POLYMER

In the present paper we report investigations about the coupled electr omechanical kinetics of a pi-conjugated polymer (pi-ccp) during doping and dedoping. Quantitative measurements of electromechanical transduc tion are performed in the course of experiments of cyclic voltammetry. The length, under controlled stress condition, and the Young's modulu s of polypyrrole samples are simultaneously measured with the electroc hemical variables; the coupling mechanism is outlined. The projected p erformances of a polypyrrole actuator are compared with those of a pol yelectrolyte gel actuator.