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Micropatterning Polypyrrole Conducting Polymer by Pulsed Electrical Discharge
Author(s) -
Anwar Mohammed Muntakim,
Saleh Tanveer,
Madden John D. W.,
Takahata Kenichi
Publication year - 2014
Publication title -
macromolecular materials and engineering
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.913
H-Index - 96
eISSN - 1439-2054
pISSN - 1438-7492
DOI - 10.1002/mame.201300048
Subject(s) - polypyrrole , micropatterning , materials science , conductive polymer , nanotechnology , polymer , actuator , supercapacitor , electrode , composite material , polymerization , electrochemistry , electrical engineering , chemistry , engineering
Polypyrrole and other conducting polymers are of interest in actuators, sensors, energy storage devices and organic electronics. The patterning of these polymers can be challenging, particularly polypyrrole due to its insolubility. This paper reports the first micropatterning of polypyrrole using high‐frequency pulses of extremely miniaturized electrical discharge. Microstructures with surface roughness of 70 nm are produced in the polymer with sub‐micron depth control. Patterning of polypyrrole film deposited on a commercial medical catheter is demonstrated toward enabling smart catheters that use the patterned film as integrated actuators. This novel micropatterning capability opens up new possibilities for polypyrrole and likely other polymers, promoting micro‐device applications for them.