Soft Self-Assembled Mechanoelectrical Transducer Films from Conductive Microgel Waterborne Dispersions

The present study aims in the developing of new softtransducersbased on sophisticated stimuli-responsive microgels that exhibit spontaneousself-assembly forming cohesive films with conductive and mechanoelectricalproperties. For that, oligo-(ethylene glycol)-based stimuli-responsivemicrogels have been synthesized using bio-inspired catechol cross-linkersby one-step batch precipitation polymerization in aqueous media. Then,3,4-ethylene dioxyyhiophene (EDOT) has been directly polymerized ontostimuli-responsive microgels using catechol groups as the unique dopant.PEDOT location is dependent on the cross-linking density of microgelparticles and EDOT amount used. Moreover, the spontaneous cohesivefilm formation ability of the waterborne dispersion after evaporationat soft application temperature is demonstrated. The films obtainedpresent conductivity and enhanced mechanoelectrical properties triggeredby simple finger compression. Both properties are function of thecross-linking density of the microgel seed particles and PEDOT amountincorporated. In addition, to obtain maximum electrical potentialgenerated and the possibility to amplify it, several films in serieswere demonstrated to be efficient. The present material can be a potentialcandidate for biomedical, cosmetic, and bioelectronic applications.