Actuation behaviour of a derivatized pyrrole accordion type polymer

Abstract

A monomer (Phenazine-2,3-diimino(pyrrole-2-yl)–PDP) derived from the condensation reaction between 2,3-diaminophenazine and a pyrrole derivative has been synthesized as a hinge molecule in the design of a zig-zag polymer. The monomer was polymerized both chemically and electrochemically in order to produce the polymer material, phenazine-2,3-diimino(pyrrole-2-yl (PPDP). During electrochemical polymerization the system was doped using 1,4-napthaquinone sulphonic acid (NQSA) and polyvinylsulfonic acid (PVSA) respectively, to improve conductivity. Characterization of the materials by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) confirmed the successful linking of the starting materials to produce the hinge molecule and nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (NMR) supported the FTIR data. The electrochemistry of the polymer in the doped and undoped state was evaluated using cyclic voltammetry (CV) and electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS).