3D Printing Performance of Ionically Bonded Conjugated/Bottlebrush Polymer Complexes

Project Description

The proposed research aims to advance the field of 3D printing of biocompatible electronic materials with ionically bonded polymeric complexes, specifically using sulfonated-poly(3-hexylthiophene) (SP3HT), sulfonated-poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (SPEDOT) and poly(4-methyl caprolactone) (PMCL). These materials hold promises for applications in bioelectronics and soft robotics, owing to their unique combination of electronic and mechanical properties. The ionic bonding between the anionic sulfonate groups of the conjugated polymers and the cationic imidazolium groups of PMCL offers a controlled means of achieving desired mechanical flexibility, electronic conductivity, and degradability, making these complexes ideal for printed functional devices.

Leveraging the precision of the Bio X 3D printer, we aim to explore the performance of SP3HT/PMCL and SPEDOT/PMCL complexes in terms of printability, structural integrity, and functional properties. Our research will focus on the correlation between printing parameters, ionic bonding efficiency, and resulting microstructure in the printed forms, thus providing a comprehensive understanding of these polymer complexes as 3D-printable materials.

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