Conducting Polymer/Hydrogel Systems as Soft Actuators

Abstract

Conducting polymers have received much attention in the field of actuators, but limits their applicability due to their low mechanical strength and processability. Conducting polymer/hydrogels (CPHs) are gels containing conducting polymer in the porous polymer hydrogel network possessing the combined properties of hydrogel and conductive system. Conducting polymer/hydrogel systems with decent electrical properties is attracting candidates for actuator applications due to high mechanical strength, biocompatibility, redox properties, stability, processability, etc. This chapter presents an overview of conducting polymer/hydrogel systems in the field of soft actuators. This chapter discusses a brief description of conducting polymer (CP) actuators with emphasis on the mechanism, merits and demerits. The purpose of this review is to summarize the progress of CP/hydrogel actuators fabricated using polypyrrole, polyaniline and polythiophene as the conducting moiety with various hydrogels, also outline the factors affecting their actuation performance and address future aspects.