Anomalous behaviour of bimorph consisting of conducting polymer gel in electrochemical doping

Summary form only given. Recently we have found the gel characteristics in the lightly cross-liked conducting polymers such as poly(3-alkylthiophene). The volume instability of conducting polymer gel has been found by changing solvent composition and temperature and also upon doping. We have also indicated the possibility of actuator using conducting polymer gel. Indeed the bimorph consisting of poly(3-alkylthiophene) gel and polypyrrole has been provided and driven by electrochemical doping. The bend of the bimorph could be controlled by the doping potential and therefore the dopant concentration. The response time changed by doping potential, electrolyte concentration and the size of bimorph. Anomalous behaviour in the response were observed for excess doping level. The origin of this unique behaviour was discussed by taking the role of the dopant in the gel into consideration.