Electroresponsive nanoporous membranes by coating anodized alumina with poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) and polypyrrole

Abstract

Electrically-active nanoporous membranes are prepared by coating the surface of anodized alumina with electroactive polymers using vapor phase polymerization with four combinations of conjugated polymers and doping ions: poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophone) and polypyrrole, FeCl3 and FeTs 3. The permeability of the polymer-coated membranes is measured as a function of the applied electric potential. A reversible three-fold increase is found in molecular flux of a neutral dye for membranes in oxidized state compared to that in the reduced state. After analyzing various factors that may affect the molecular transport through these membranes, it is concluded that the observed behavior results mostly from swelling/deswelling of the polymers and from the confinement of the polymers inside the nanopores. Electrically responsive nanoporous membranes are prepared by coating their surface with doped electroactive polymers poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophone) and polypyrrole. The molecular flux through the membranes is higher in the oxidized state compared to the reduced state due to swelling/deswelling of the polymers confined inside the nanopores. © 2014 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim.