Wireless Coupling of Conducting Polymer Actuators with Light Emission

Abstract

Combining the actuation of conducting polymers with additional functionalities is an interesting fundamental scientific challenge and increases their application potential. Herein we demonstrate the possibility of direct integration of a miniaturized light emitting diode (LED) in a polypyrrole (PPy) matrix in order to achieve simultaneous wireless actuation and light emission. A light emitting diode is used as a part of an electroactive surface on which electrochemical polymerization allows direct incorporation of the electronic device into the polymer. The resulting free-standing polymer/LED hybrid can be addressed by bipolar electrochemistry to trigger simultaneously oxidation and reduction reactions at its opposite extremities, leading to a controlled deformation and an electron flow through the integrated LED. Such a dual response in the form of actuation and light emission opens up interesting perspectives in the field of microrobotics.

Remote Actuation of a Light‐Emitting Device Based on Magnetic Stirring and Wireless Electrochemistry

“…The light intensity reaches 50 % of its maximum value when the applied voltage is about 1.8 V. In the context of BPE, LEDs were previously used as conventional electronic components to reveal BPE‐driven reactions by a simple visual readout . We also reported recently the incorporation of a LED either in a metal or polymer‐based bipolar electrode . However, the full characterization of a LED behavior under BPE conditions was not yet reported.…”

Autonomous Chemotactic Light‐Emitting Swimmers with Trajectories of Increasing Complexity

“…[ 33 ] Among the various approaches, the use of light‐emitting diodes (LEDs) as active ingredients is a very versatile concept to generate motion, [ 32 ] for remote steering [ 34 ] or for pumping and mixing of liquids in the presence of AC electric fields. [ 35 ] With a similar philosophy, light‐emitting crawlers have been prepared by functionalizing micro‐LEDs with conducting polymers [ 36 ] and by using IR‐LEDs integrated in a polymeric structure, presenting controlled motion and actuation. [ 37 ] However, all these systems require an input of external electric energy to propel or switch on the device.…”

Electrochemistry‐Based Light‐Emitting Mobile Systems

“…Recently, micro‐LEDs functionalized with conducting polymers were presented as a light emitting crawlers [113] . Polypyrrole/micro‐LED hybrids act as bipolar electrodes, where light emission and electromechanical motion is triggered by the applied electric field.…”