Visualizing ion currents in conjugated polymers

A new technique for direct measurement and visualization of ion transport in electrochromic materials that will be instrumental in formulating and validating physics-based models of electrochemical reactions is presented (see Figure). Initial experimental and modeling results have been obtained by applying the method to dodecylbenzene-sulfonate-doped polypyrrole (PPy(DBS)). Migration, normally neglected in electrochemistry, plays a significant role in ion transport in PPy.