Use of ionic liquids for pi-conjugated polymer electochemical devices

Authors

W. Lu, Santa Fe Science and Technology, Santa Fe, USA
A. G. Fadeev, Santa Fe Science and Technology, Santa Fe, USA
B. Qi, Santa Fe Science and Technology, Santa Fe, USA
E. Smela, Santa Fe Science and Technology, Santa Fe, USA
B. R. Mattes, Santa Fe Science and Technology, Santa Fe, USA
J. Ding, University of Wollongong
Geoffrey M. Spinks, University of WollongongFollow
J. Mazurkiewicz, University of Wollongong
D. Zhou, University of Wollongong
G G. Wallace, University of WollongongFollow
D. R. MacFarlane, Monash University
S. A. Forsyth, Monash University
M. Forsyth, Monash University

RIS ID

7586

Publication Details

Lu, W., Fadeev, A., Qi, B., Smela, E., Matles, B. R., Ding, J., Spinks, G. Maxwell., Mazurkiewicz, J. H., Zhou, D., Wallace, G. G., MacFarlane, D., Forsyth, S. & Forsyth, M. (2002). Use of ionic liquids for pi-conjugated polymer electochemical devices. Science, 297 983-987.

Abstract

Pi-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 -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.