Patterning highly conducting conjugated polymer electrodes for soft and flexible microelectrochemical devices

There is a need for soft actuators in various biomedical applications in order to manipulate delicate objects such as cells and tissues. Soft actuators are able to adapt to any shape and limit the stress applied to delicate objects. Conjugated polymer actuators, especially in the so-called trilayer configuration, are interesting candidates for driving such micromanipulators. However, challenges involved in patterning the electrodes in a trilayer with individual contact have prevented further development of soft micromanipulators based on conjugated polymer actuators. To allow such patterning, two printing-based patterning techniques have been developed. First an oxidant layer is printed using either syringe-based printing or micro-contact printing, followed by vapor phase polymerization of the conjugated polymer. Sub-millimeter patterns with electronic conductivities of 800 Sï\u83\u97cm-1 are obtained. Next, laser ablation is used to cleanly cut the final device structures including the printed patterns, resulting in fingers with individually controllable digits and miniaturized hands. The methods presented in this paper will enable integration of patterned electrically active conjugated polymer layers in many types of complex 3-D structures.Funding agencies:This study was financially supported by Linköping University, COST Action MP1003 ESNAM (European Scientific Network for Artificial Muscles), the Swedish Research Council (VR – 2010-6672, 2014-3079, 2015-03298), the Knut & Alice Wallenberg Stiftelse (LiU-2010-00318 & LiU-2012- 01361), and the EU FP7 Marie Curie action IEF (625923 POLYACT)