Conducting polymers as a basis for responsive materials systems

Conducting polymers such as polypyrrole and polyaniline are being extensive ly studied for their use in a wide range of new products. These materials a re unique in that they have switchable properties due to their 2 or more me chanically stable oxidation states. Thus, films or coatings can be easily s witched by the application of small voltages and currents to change the mec hanical and electrical properties, the density, light absorbance and even t o emit light in a diode arrangement. This paper reviews the factors that in fluence the performance of conducting polymers in four applications being d eveloped at the Intelligent Polymer Research Institute: actuators, membrane s, sensors and corrosion resistant coatings.