Perfluorosulphonate ionomer

By electropolymerization of pyrrole in solvents containing polyelectrolytes such as potassium polyvinylsulfate, it is possible to prepare films of polypyrrole with polymeric counterions which have good conductivity (1-10 S cm-1) and strength (49 MPa) 303 304,305). Such a material could be used reversibly to absorb cations in an ion exchange system. Pyrrole has also been electrochemically polymerized in microporous polytetrafluoroethylene membranes (Gore-tex), impregnated with a perfluorosulphonate ionomer 3061. 

The hydrogel of perfluorosulphonate ionomer is also an effective electroactive material. This material already shows actuating properties as a film of 0.2mm in a DC field, with application of only 3 V16. The principle of the deforming mechanism is similar to that for other polyelectrolyte gels. The response time and durability are much better than for... 

Gebel, G., Aldebert, P., and Pineri, M., Swelling study of perfluorosulphonated ionomer membranes, Polymer, 34, 333, 1993. 

Figure 13.1 Generic chemical formula of perfluorosulphonate ionomer (PFSI), with variable indices m and n. For Flemion m = 0-1, n = 1-5 Nafion m =, n = 2 Dow m=, n= Aciplex m = 0-2, n = 1-4. Typical molecular weights are estimated to be in the range 10 -10 g moF (Mauritz and Moore [2]), which would correspond a random copolymer with x = 595-5945, y = 91-909 for 1100 EW molecules of Nafion.

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