Electroactive and

Photoactive Polymers
 Electroactive Polymers
Electroactive polymers are materials that have been modified in such
a way that they can convert electrical impulses into mechanical
movement – a principle that enables the production of capacitive
sensors, actuators and generators.
Electroactive polymers (EAPs) are a versatile class of electrically
deformable polymers.
These polymers have the ability to deform when excited by electrical
potentials due to their inherent electro-mechanical properties.
 Different types of EAPs:

There are several types of EAPs, including:

1. Ionic EAPs: These materials contain mobile ions that can move under an electric
field, causing the material to expand or contract.
2. Conductive EAPs: These materials contain conductive particles or fibers that can
change their position in response to an electric field.
3. Dielectric EAPs: These materials have high permittivity, meaning they can store
electrical energy in an electric field, causing the material to expand.
4. Piezoelectric EAPs: These materials generate an electrical charge in response to
mechanical stress, or can undergo mechanical deformation in response to an
electrical field.
 Ionic EAPs [IEAPs]
Ionic electroactive polymers (IEAPs) are a type of electroactive polymer that can
change their shape or size in response to an electric field by the migration of ions
within the polymer.

IEAPs typically consist of a polymer matrix and an electrolyte solution, which contains
mobile ions that can move within the polymer matrix in response to an applied electric
field. When an electric field is applied, the mobile ions migrate to one electrode,
causing the polymer matrix to expand in that direction. When the electric field is
removed, the mobile ions redistribute and the polymer returns to its original shape.
One example of an IEAP is polypyrrole (PPy), which is a conductive polymer
that can be doped with ions to create an ionic conducting polymer. When an
electric field is applied, the mobile ions in the PPy matrix migrate, causing the
polymer to expand or contract.
Other examples of IEAPs include polyaniline, polythiophene, and PEDOT.

Polypyrrole Polythiophene
 Conductive EAPs
Conductive electroactive polymers (CEAPs) are a type of EAP that can change
their shape or size in response to an electric field through the movement of
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conductive particles or fibers within the polymer matrix.
CEAPs typically consist of a polymer matrix that is loaded with conductive
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CEAPs have several advantages over other types of EAPs, such as fast
response times and low operating voltages. They can be used in a range of
applications, including sensors, actuators, and energy harvesting devices.

Some examples of CEAPs include polyaniline, which is a conductive

polymer that can undergo volume changes in response to an applied
electric field, and carbon nanotube composites, which can undergo large
deformation under an electric field due to the movement of the
conductive carbon nanotubes within the polymer matrix.

 Dielectric EAPS
Dielectric electroactive polymers (DEAPs) are a type of EAP that can undergo large
deformation in response to an electric field. These polymers have a high dielectric constant,
which means they can store large amounts of electrical charge when an electric field is
applied. When the electric field is removed, the stored charge is released, causing the
polymer to contract.
DEAPs have several advantages over other types of EAPs, such as high energy density, fast
response times, and large deformations. They can be used in a wide range of applications,
including actuators, sensors, and energy harvesting devices.
Some examples of DEAPs include polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF), which is a piezoelectric
polymer that can undergo mechanical deformation in response to an applied electric field,
and acrylic elastomers, which can undergo large deformation under an electric field due to
the alignment of polar molecules within the polymer.
 Piezoelectric EAPs
Piezoelectric electroactive polymers (PEAPs) are a type of EAP that can generate
electrical charge or undergo mechanical deformation in response to an applied
mechanical stress or strain.
PEAPs have several advantages over other types of EAPs, such as high energy
conversion efficiency, large deformation, and good stability. They can be used in a
range of applications, including energy harvesting, sensing, actuation, and biomedical
devices.
Some examples of PEAPs include PZT composites, which can generate large amounts
of electrical charge in response to a mechanical stress or strain, and PVDF-based
materials, which can undergo mechanical deformation in response to an applied
electrical field due to their piezoelectric response.
 Applications
1 ARTIFICIAL MUSCLES: EAPS HAVE THE POTENTIAL TO BE USED AS ARTIFICIAL
MUSCLES DUE TO THEIR ABILITY TO GENERATE LARGE DEFORMATIONS IN RESPONSE
TO AN APPLIED ELECTRIC FIELD.

2 ACTUATORS: EAPS CAN BE USED AS ACTUATORS IN A RANGE OF APPLICATIONS,

INCLUDING VALVES, PUMPS, AND OPTICAL SWITCHES.

3 SENSORS: EAPS CAN BE USED AS SENSORS DUE TO THEIR ABILITY TO UNDERGO

DEFORMATION IN RESPONSE TO A MECHANICAL FORCE OR AN ELECTRICAL FIELD.
THEY CAN BE USED IN APPLICATIONS SUCH AS PRESSURE SENSORS, STRAIN
SENSORS, AND TOUCH SENSORS.

4 ENERGY HARVESTING: EAPS CAN BE USED TO HARVEST ENERGY FROM SOURCES

SUCH AS VIBRATIONS OR MECHANICAL DEFORMATION, WHICH CAN THEN BE USED TO
POWER ELECTRONIC DEVICES.
5 BIOMEDICAL APPLICATIONS: EAPS HAVE POTENTIAL APPLICATIONS
IN THE BIOMEDICAL FIELD, SUCH AS IN DRUG DELIVERY SYSTEMS,
TISSUE ENGINEERING, AND BIOSENSORS.

6 SOFT ROBOTICS: EAPS CAN BE USED IN SOFT ROBOTICS, WHICH IS AN

EMERGING FIELD THAT AIMS TO CREATE ROBOTS THAT ARE MORE
FLEXIBLE AND ADAPTABLE THAN TRADITIONAL RIGID ROBOTS. EAPS
CAN BE USED TO CREATE SOFT AND FLEXIBLE ROBOTIC COMPONENTS.
Advantages: Disadvantages:
1. Large deformation 1. Cost
2. Low weight and volume 2. Limited lifespan
3. Fast response time 3. Sensitivity to temperature
4. Low power consumption 4. Limited commercial availability
5. Flexible and adaptable 5. Manufacturing challenges
6. No moving parts 6. Reliability issues
7. Compatible with existing technologies
 Photoactive Polymers
Photoactive polymers are a class of polymers that have the ability to undergo a
photochemical reaction upon exposure to light. These materials have gained significant
interest in recent years due to their potential applications in a variety of fields, including
optoelectronics, photovoltaics, and biomedical engineering.
The photoactive behavior of these polymers arises from the incorporation of
photoactive molecules or chromophores into the polymer backbone or side chains.
These chromophores can absorb light and undergo a chemical or physical change, such
as photoisomerization or photooxidation, which leads to a change in the polymer's
properties.
Examples of photoactive polymers include azobenzene-containing polymers, which can
undergo photoisomerization upon exposure to light, and cinnamate-containing
polymers, which can undergo photodimerization.

Types of photoactive polymers:

1. Conjugated Polymers :These materials have a conjugated
backbone that allows for efficient charge transport and can absorb
light to produce a photogenerated charge.
2. Azobenzene Polymers:. These materials have potential applications
in optical storage, information processing, and optoelectronics.
3. Cinnamate Polymers: These materials have potential applications
in light-induced shape memory materials and microelectronics.
4. Spiropyran Polymers: These materials have potential applications
in sensors, optical switches, and memory devices.
5. Photoresponsive Hydrogels:These materials have potential
applications in drug delivery, tissue engineering, and biosensors.

 Conjugated Polymers
Conjugated polymers are a type of photoactive polymer that has a
highly conjugated backbone structure, consisting of alternating double
and single bonds. These polymers are characterized by their unique
electronic and optical properties, which arise from the delocalization
of π electrons along the conjugated backbone.
One of the most extensively studied conjugated polymers is poly(3-
hexylthiophene) (P3HT), which has a conjugated backbone consisting
of thiophene units. P3HT has been widely used as a donor material in
organic solar cells, where it absorbs light and generates free charge
carriers that can be collected as an electrical current.
 Azobenzene Polymers
Azobenzene polymers are a type of photoactive polymer that contains
azobenzene chromophores within their molecular structure.
Azobenzene chromophores are composed
of two phenyl rings connected by a double bond (-N=N-),
which can undergo reversible trans-cis
isomerization upon exposure to light.
When azobenzene chromophores are incorporated
into polymer chains, they can impart photoresponsive
behavior to the resulting materials. Upon irradiation with light of a
specific wavelength, the azobenzene chromophores
undergo trans-cis isomerization, leading to a change in the shape
and/or orientation of the polymer chains.
 Cinnamate Polymers
Cinnamate polymers are a type of photoactive polymer that contain cinnamate
groups within their molecular structure.
Cinnamate groups consist of an aromatic ring with a carboxylic acid group and
an ethylene linker.
Upon exposure to light,
cinnamate groups can undergo photodimerization,
in which two cinnamate groups react to
form a cyclobutane ring.
cinnamate polymers have been used to create materials that can undergo
reversible changes in shape or size upon exposure to light, which can be useful
in applications such as micro-actuators and sensors.
 Spiropyran Polymers
Spiropyran polymers are a class of polymers that contain spiropyran
moieties within their polymer backbone or side chains.
Spiropyran is a small molecule consisting of two
benzene rings linked by a spiro carbon atom.
The spiropyran moiety undergoes a reversible
photochromic reaction upon exposure to UV
or visible light, leading to the formation of a
colored merocyanine species.
Spiropyran polymers can be synthesized using various polymerization
techniques such as free radical polymerization, anionic polymerization, or
ring-opening polymerization.
 Photoresponsive Hydrogels
Photoresponsive hydrogels are hydrogels that can respond to light stimuli,
usually through the incorporation of photoresponsive molecules.
Photoresponsive hydrogels can undergo
various physical or chemical changes in
response to light, such as swelling
, shrinking, or changes in mechanical
properties.
There are several types of photoresponsive molecules that can be incorporated
into hydrogels, including azobenzene, spiropyran, and coumarin derivatives.
These molecules can undergo reversible photoisomerization in response to
light, which allows the hydrogel to reversibly change its properties upon
exposure to different wavelengths of light.
 Applications
1. Smart materials: These materials can be used in various applications,
such as sensors, actuators, and optical devices.
2. Drug delivery: Photoresponsive polymers can be used as drug
delivery vehicles that release drugs in response to light.
3. Tissue engineering: Photoresponsive polymers can be used to create
3D scaffolds that support cell growth and differentiation.
4. Optoelectronics: Photoresponsive polymers can be used in
optoelectronic devices, such as solar cells, light-emitting diodes (LEDs),
and optical switches.
5. Microfluidics: Photoresponsive polymers can be used to create
microfluidic devices that can be precisely controlled using light.
Advantages: Disadvantages:
1. Good optical property 1. Limited stability
2. Versatility 2. Complexity of synthesis
3. Low toxicity 3. Limited absorption range
4. Cost effective 4. Limited efficiency
5. Environment friendly