Ionic liquid as electrolyte in a self-powered controlled release system

Initial studies into the development of a self-powered controlled release system using ionic liquid electrolyte were performed via galvanic coupling of a conducting polymer doped with dye and a zinc anode. The conducting polymer employed was polypyrrole (PPy) doped with phenol red (PR) dye. The electrochemical properties of the polymer as well as the dye release process initiated by a Zn electrode were investigated. A bilayer conducting polymer structure wherein polypyrrole–polystyrene sulfonate (PPy-PSS) coated on top of PPy-PR ensured no leakage of dye, yet allowed efficient release of PR on galvanic coupling in a temperature sensitive electrolyte.