Biomimetic dual sensing-actuators based on conducting polymers. Galvanostatic theoretical model for actuators sensing...

A theoretical model is proposed for the quantitative description of the chronopotentiometric (E-t) responses, under galvanostatic control, of either conducting polymer films or dual sensing-actuating devices. Assuming that the reaction occurs by extraction, or injection, of n consecutive electrons from, or to, a polymer chain the material moves through n consecutive oxidation or reduction states. Stair functions are obtained describing either potential or consumed electrical energy evolutions as a function of both, driving (current) and environmental (temperature, electrolyte concentration...) variables. The current quantifies the actuation of any electrochemical device (charge/discharge of batteries, movement rate, and position of muscles): the stair functions are dual actuating-sensing functions. A good agreement exists between theoretical and experimental results from either polypyrrole films or artificial muscles at different temperatures. Only two connecting wires include, at any time, sensing (potential) and working (current) information of any dual device.