New Materials for Energy Capture and Conversion: Ionic Liquid-derived Conducting Polymers.

Inherently conducting polymers (ICPs) have applications in a wide range of electrochemical devices including actuators, for artificial muscles, and photovoltaic cells for harnessing solar energy. Use of an ionic liquid as the electrolyte within these devices greatly increases the stability and cyclability of the ICP. Our preliminary work shows that an ionic liquid solvent in the synthesis of ICPs results in materials with dramatically different morphologies and improved electronic properties. Ionic liquids will be used to prepare ICPs with enhanced electrical and mechanical properties and prototype photovoltaic and actuator devices will be developed based on these new materials.