Multiresponsive PEDOT-Ionic Liquid Materials for the Design of Surfaces with Switchable Wettability

Among the different types stimuli-responsive polymers, conjugated polymers reveal unique multiresponsive. behavior. In this work, the synthesis and characterization of new fractional poly(3,4-ethylhedioxythiophenes) (PEDOT) bearing imidacolium ionic-liquid moieties (PEDOT-Im) is reported. PEDOT-Im polymers show multiresponsive properties to a variety of stimuli, such as temperature, pH, ddphsg, and presence of anions. These stimuli provoke different chhanges in PEDOT-Im, such as changes in color, oxidation state, and, behavior,. in all cases, a reversible effect is observed, and the polymers reveal responsive properties in solution as well as in the form of thin films. Whereas sensitiveness to pH and oxidative doping are known phenomena for other PEDOT derivatives, responsiveness to temperature and to anions is a unique property of PEDOT-Im. The anion exchange is further investigated by means of the Quartz Crystal Microbalance with dissipation Anion exchanges induce fast, adjust-able, and reversible contact angle changes between 24 degrees and 107 degrees. As a potential application surfaces with switchable wettability triggered by anion solutions are prepared by spin-coating PEDOT Im films-onto different substrates.