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Ionic polymer metal composites (IPMCs) can generate a voltage when physically deformed. Conversely, an applied small voltage or electrical field can induce an array of spectacular large deformation or actuation behaviours in IPMCs, such as bending, twisting, rolling, twirling, steering and undulating. An important smart material, IPMCs have applications in energy harvesting and as self-powered strain or deformation sensors, they are especially suitable for monitoring the shape of dynamic structures. Other uses include soft actuation applications and as a material for biomimetic robotic soft artificial muscles in industrial and medical contexts. This comprehensive volume on ionic polymer metal composites provides a broad coverage of the state of the art and recent advances in the field written by some of the world's leading experts on various characterizations and modeling of IPMCs. Topics covered in this two volume set include uses in electrochemically active electrodes, electric energy storage devices, soft biomimetic robotics artificial muscles, multiphysics modeling of IPMCs, biomedical applications, IPMCs as dexterous manipulators and tactile sensors for minimally invasive robotic surgery, self-sensing, miniature pumps for drug delivery, IPMC snake-like robots, IPMC microgrippers for microorganisms manipulations, Graphene-based IPMCs and cellulose-based IPMCs or electroactive paper actuators (EAPap). Edited by the leading authority on IMPCs, the broad coverage will appeal to researchers from chemistry, materials, engineering, physics and medical communities interested in both the material and its applications.

Polymers with redox properties are electroactive macromolecules containing localized sites or groups that can be oxidized and reduced. Depending on the oxidation state, redox polymers can present different electronic, optical, mechanical or chemical properties. These polymers are finding new applications in materials science, as well as being included in the design of a number of electrochemical devices. Redox Polymers for Energy and Nanomedicine highlights trends in the chemistry, characterization and application of polymers with redox properties. The book starts with an introduction to redox polymers and covers several important topics including redox polymer types, state-of-the-art characterization techniques, synthetic strategies and theory and computational studies. The second part is devoted to the redox polymers applied in energy and nanomedicine. First, the most important redox polymer families in energy storage are reviewed, i.e, radical, phenothiazine, carbonyl and catechol containing polymers. The book also contains recent developments in redox polymers for biofuel cells and all-organic batteries. Second, the emerging applications of redox polymers in nanomedicine technologies such as, tissue engineering, drug-delivery, actuators or biosensors are explained in detail. With contributions from global experts, the book will be of interest to graduate students and researchers working in polymer science, electrochemistry, energy research and nanomedicine.

Semiconducting polymers are of great interest for applications in electroluminescent devices, solar cells, batteries and diodes. In recent years vast advances have been made in the area of controlled synthesis of semiconducting polymers, specifically polythiophenes. The book is separated into two main sections, the first will introduce the advances made in polymer synthesis, and the second will focus on the microstructure and property analysis that has been enabled because of the recent advances in synthetic strategies.Edited by one of the leaders in the area of polythiophene synthesis, this new book will bring the field up to date with more recent models for understanding semiconducting polymers. The book will be applicable to materials and polymers chemists in industry and academia from postgraduate level upwards.

Conducting polymers are organic, conjugated materials that offer high electrical conductivity through doping by oxidation and a wide range of unique electromechanical and electrochromic characteristics. These properties can be reversibly tuned through electrochemical reactions, making this class of materials good biomimetic models and ideal candidates for the development of novel flexible and transparent sensing devices. This book comprehensively summarises the current and future applications of conducting polymers, with chapters focussing on electrosynthesis strategies, theoretical models for composition dependent allosteric and structural changes, composition dependent biomimetic properties, novel biomimetic devices and future developments of zoomorphic and anthropomorphic tools. Written by an expert researcher working within the field, this title will have broad appeal to materials scientists in industry and academia, from postgraduate level upwards.

Polymer solar cells have gained much attention as they offer a potentially economic and viable way of commercially manufacturing lightweight, flexible and low-cost photovoltaics. With contributions from leading scientists, Polymer Photovoltaics provides an international perspective on the latest research for this rapidly expanding field. The book starts with an Introduction to polymer solar cells and covers several important topics that govern their photovoltaic properties including the chemistry and the design of new light harvesting and interfacial materials and their structure-property relationship; the physics for photocurrent generation in the polymer solar cells; new characterization tools to study morphology effect on the property of donor/acceptor bulk heterojunctions; new device concepts such as tandem cells and semi-transparent cells and advanced roll-to-roll processes for large-scale manufacturing of polymer solar cells. Written by active researchers, the book provides a comprehensive overview of the recent advancements in polymer solar cell technology for both researchers and students that are interested in this field.