Electrochemically stimulated conformational

Later we will describe both oxidation and reduction processes that are in agreement with the electrochemically stimulated conformational relaxation (ESCR) model presented at the end of the chapter. In a neutral state, most of the conducting polymers are an amorphous cross-linked network (Fig. 3). The linear chains between cross-linking points have strong van der Waals intrachain and interchain interactions, giving a compact solid [Fig. 14(a)]. By oxidation of the neutral chains, electrons are extracted from the chains. At the polymer/solution interface, positive radical cations (polarons) accumulate along the polymeric chains. The same density of counter-ions accumulates on the solution side. 

The flow of an anodic current oxidizes the conducting polymer and the film swells. At the polypyrrole/tape interface, electrochemically stimulated conformational changes in the polymer promote an expansion that... 

Steps 1 and 2 of polymer oxidation described in the previous section can be considered as a relaxation step. Then the oxidation is completed by swelling184 186 under diffusional control. The electrochemically stimulated conformational relaxation, swelling, and oxidation of a conducting polymer is shown in Fig. 35. 

IX. POLYMER-SOLVENT INTERACTIONS FROM THE ELECTROCHEMICALLY STIMULATED CONFORMATIONAL RELAXATION MODEL... 

The action of a muscle is a consequence of electrochemically stimulated conformational relaxation processes that occur along every electroactive chain inside a polymeric film. A free-volume model dependent on the... 

Electrochemically stimulated conformational relaxation model (ESCR model) — This model [i, ii] describes the relaxation phenomena occurring during the charging and discharging of -> conducting polymers. It assumes that applying an anodic -> overpotential to a neutral conjugated polymer, as a first step, an expansion of the closed polymeric structure occurs. In this way, partial oxidation takes place and counter ions from the solution enter the solid polymer under the influence of an electrical field at those points of the polymer/electrolyte... 

Electrochemically stimulated conformational relaxation model (ESCR model) — Figure... 

Since the appearance of the redox [ii, iii] and conducting [iv] polymer-modified electrodes much effort has been made concerning the development and characterization of electrodes modified with electroactive polymeric materials, as well as their application in various fields such as -> sensors, actuators, ion exchangers, -> batteries, -> supercapacitors, -> photovoltaic devices, -> corrosion protection, -> electrocatalysis, -> elec-trochromic devices, electroluminescent devices (- electroluminescence) [i, v-viii]. See also -> electrochemically stimulated conformational relaxation (ESCR) model, and -> surface-modified electrodes. 

The retardation observed in the oxidation process when the polymer was previously polarized at high cathodic potentials for long periods of time, reported as a memory effect by Villeret and Nechtschein [174], was partially quantified by Oden and Nechtschein [167,168,175]. A complete description of these memory effects, based on the electrochemically stimulated conformational relaxation (ESCR) model, has been provided by Otero et al. [176-178]. The knowledge and control of those conformational relaxation processes are essential from a technological point of view. 

Theoretical models available in the literature consider the electron loss, the counter-ion diffusion, or the nucleation process as the rate-limiting steps they follow traditional electrochemical models and avoid any structural treatment of the electrode. Our approach relies on the electro-chemically stimulated conformational relaxation control of the process. Although these conformational movements179 are present at any moment of the oxidation process (as proved by the experimental determination of the volume change or the continuous movements of artificial muscles), in order to be able to quantify them, we need to isolate them from either the electrons transfers, the counter-ion diffusion, or the solvent interchange we need electrochemical experiments in which the kinetics are under conformational relaxation control. Once the electrochemistry of these structural effects is quantified, we can again include the other components of the electrochemical reaction to obtain a complete description of electrochemical oxidation. 

This is the relaxation time of the polymer oxidation under electro-chemically stimulated conformational relaxation control. So features concerning both electrochemistry and polymer science are integrated in a single equation defining a temporal magnitude for electrochemical oxidation as a function of the energetic terms acting on this oxidation. A theoretical development similar to the one performed for the Butler-Volmer equation yields... 

These equations describe the full oxidation of a conducting polymer Submitted to a potential step under electrochemically stimulated confer-mational relaxation control as a function of electrochemical and structural variables. The initial term of /(f) includes the evolution of the current consumed to relax the structure. The second term indicates an interdependence between counter-ion diffusion and conformational changes, which are responsible for the overall oxidation and swelling of the polymer under diffusion control. 

Experimental results corroborate that shifts of 1.2 eV are always present if any of the variables acting on the electrochemical process are changed the solvent, the salt, or the temperature of work. We cannot attribute the observed shift to solvatochromic, counter-ion-chromic, or thermochromic effects taking place inside the film during oxidation-reduction processes. So, as predicted, these shifts are a consequence of the way the chains store or relax energy through conformational changes stimulated by electrochemical oxidation or reduction, respectively. 

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