Self-assembling electroactive hydrogels for flexible display technology

• Published in: Journal of physics. Condensed matter 2010-12, Vol.22 (49), p.494105-494105
• Main Authors: Jones, Scott L, Wong, Kok Hou, Thordarson, Pall, Ladouceur, François
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0953-8984; 1361-648X
• DOI: 10.1088/0953-8984/22/49/494105

We have assessed the potential of self-assembling hydrogels for use in conformal displays. The self-assembling process can be used to alter the transparency of the material to all visible light due to scattering by fibres. The reversible transition is shown to be of low energy by differential scanning calorimetry. For use in technology it is imperative that this transition is controlled electrically. We have thus synthesized novel self-assembling hydrogelator molecules which contain an electroactive group. The well-known redox couple of anthraquinone/anthrahydroquinone has been used as the hydrophobic component for a series of small molecule gelators. They are further functionalized with peptide combinations of L-phenylalanine and glycine to provide the hydrophilic group to complete 'head-tail' models of self-assembling gels. The gelation and electroactive characteristics of the series were assessed. Cyclic voltammetry shows the reversible redox cycle to be only superficially altered by functionalization. Additionally, spectroelectrochemical measurements show a reversible transparency and colour change induced by the redox process.