In search of better electroactive polymer actuator materials: PPy versus PEDOT versus PEDOT-PPy composites

A comparative study of metal-free air-operated polypyrrole and PEDOT based trilayer actuators is presented. Actuators made of both pure and combined conducting polymers are considered. Trilayer bending actuators, synthesized in similar conditions, are characterized in terms of the structure, electrochemical and electro-chemo-mechanical properties. The characterization was carried out using two popular electrolytes: LiTFSI in propylene carbonate and a room-temperature ionic liquid EMIm TFSI. The results reveal that structure and actuation properties of the synthesized actuators depend on both the polymer chosen for the chemically synthesized electrode layer as well as the electrochemically synthesized working layer.