Use of Ionic Liquids for π-Conjugated Polymer Electrochemical Devices

• Published in: Science (American Association for the Advancement of Science) Vol. 297; no. 5583; pp. 983 - 987
• Main Authors: Lu, Wen, Fadeev, Andrei G., Qi, Baohua, Smela, Elisabeth, Mattes, Benjamin R., Ding, Jie, Spinks, Geoffrey M., Mazurkiewicz, Jakub, Zhou, Dezhi, Wallace, Gordon G., MacFarlane, Douglas R., Forsyth, Stewart A., Forsyth, Maria
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Washington, DC American Association for the Advancement of Science 09.08.2002
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Cations; Conducting polymers; Electric potential; Electric properties; Electrical, magnetic and optical properties; Electrochemical analysis; Electrodes; Electrolytes; Exact sciences and technology; Ionic liquids; Ions; Organic polymers; Oxidation; Physicochemistry of polymers; Polymers; Polypyrroles; Properties and characterization; Research Article; Thin films; Conducting polymers; Conjugated polymer; Electrochemical properties; Electrochemical device; Electrolyte solution; Use; Doped polymer; Thiophene polymer; Experimental study; Pyrrole polymer; Aniline polymer
• ISSN: 0036-8075; 1095-9203; 1095-9203
• DOI: 10.1126/science.1072651

π-Conjugated polymers that are electrochemically cycled in ionic liquids have enhanced lifetimes without failure (up to 1 million cycles) and fast cycle switching speeds (100 ms). We report results for electrochemical mechanical actuators, electrochromic windows, and numeric displays made from three types of π-conjugated polymers: polyaniline, polypyrrole, and polythiophene. Experiments were performed under ambient conditions, yet the polymers showed negligible loss in electroactivity. These performance advantages were obtained by using environmentally stable, room-temperature ionic liquids composed of 1-butyl-3-methyl imidazolium cations together with anions such as tetrafluoroborate or hexafluorophosphate.