The effects of varying deposition current density on bending behaviour in PPy(DBS)-actuated bending beams

Polypyrrole(dodecylbenzene sulfonate), a type of conjugated polymer that ca n change volume under electrochemical stimulation, was electrochemically de posited on metal-coated Kapton((R)) strips using current densities that ran ged from 0.4 to 40 mA/cm(2) The resulting bending beams were subjected to v arious voltage and current stimulation waveforms, and the beam movements an d electrochemical activity were recorded. The extent of beam curling during cyclic voltammetry and potential stepping correlated inversely with deposi tion current density. However, during current stepping, the curling did not depend on deposition current density. Rather, it depended only on the amou nt of charge exchanged. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science B.V. All rights reserved.