Electro-Responsively
Reversible Transition of Polythiophene
Films from Superhydrophobicity to Superhydrophilicity
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Abstract
An electro-responsively reversible
switching of wettability between
superhydrophobicity and superhydrophilicity has been obtained from
a highly porous structured polythiophene film. The polythiophene film
was prepared by two-step electrochemical deposition on an indium tin
oxide (ITO) substrate. The underlying poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)
(PEDOT) provides a highly porous structured conductive support, and
poly(3-methylthiophene) (P(3-MTH)) deposited thereon plays the role
of a low-surface-energy conductive coating. The wettability switching
of this double-layer film between superhydrophobicity and superhydrophilicity
has been investigated by doping and dedoping in an electrolyte solution
containing ClO<sub>4</sub><sup>–</sup>. Electrochromism of
the film was also seen to accompany the electrochemical process of
conversion between the two superwetting states. On the basis of this
porous electro-active film, an in situ electro-wetting device was
also demonstrated