Doping induced volume change in a π-conjugated conducting polymer

Abstract In the present paper we report investigations about the coupled electromechanical kinetics of a π-conjugated polymer (π-ccp) during doping and dedoping. Quantitative measurements of electromechanical transduction are performed in the course of experiments of cyclic voltammetry. The length, under controlled stress condition, and the Young's modulus of polypyrrole samples are simultaneously measured with the electrochemical variables; the coupling mechanism is outlined. The projected performances of a polypyrrole actuator are compared with those of a polyelectrolyte gel actuator.