Combined chemical and electrochemical synthesis methods for metal-free polypyrrole actuators

Novel combined chemical–electrochemical synthesis routes for the preparation of metal-free air-operated polypyrrole-based actuators are presented. The chemical synthesis phase provides the conductive electrode surface for the well-controllable electrochemical deposition of the working PPy material. Several new techniques not previously used in conducting polymer actuator preparation are described, including vapor-polymerization, oxidizer-painting and low temperature electrosynthesis in mixed aqueous solutions. Both commercially available and in-house membranes were used. The three described methods yielded well reproducible, functional actuators with acceptable displacement, strains and strain-rates. The most important characteristics of the actuators are presented.