Conductive shape memory gels for sensing application

In this work we have combined the physical and mechanical properties of the thermo-responsive poly (N,N-dimethyl acrylamide-co-Stearyl acrylate) (PDMAAm-co-SA) shape memory gels (SMGs) with the electrical activity of an electroactive component in order to develop a hybrid material named conductive SMG (C-SMG) that can sense their shape transformation through electrical properties. The conductivity of the SMGs was achieved by chemically polymerizing EDOT (with PSS as the molecular dopant) within the tough SMGs fully swollen network. We critically optimized the composition to achieve conductive SMG (C-SMG) with tunable swelling and mechanical toughness. Finally, we demonstrated the sensing behavior of C-SMG by measuring their electric signal as a function of applied pressure or strain which can be applied in sensor devices like pressure sensor or strain sensor.