ELECTROELASTOMERS - CONJUGATED POLY(3-OCTYLTHIOPHENE) GELS WITH CONTROLLED CROSS-LINKING

We synthesized a large poly(3-octylthiophene) thick gel film crosslink ed by 1,6-(beta,beta)-bisthienyl-hexane (BTH) unit. Volume shrinking a nd swelling behavior of the film with changing solvent quality, temper ature, and chemical doping was observed. The film is an electroelastom er, as indicated by volume changes during doping/undoping under step p otentials. In acetonitrile, it shrinks upon chemical doping by nitroso nium tetrafluoroborate, but swells upon electrochemical doping. These volume changes are related to the enhanced interchain interactions and improved compatibility between the polymer and the solvent, upon dopi ng.