Pyrrole is a reactive organic heterocycle as a result of its low ionization potential. It tends to react readily with electrophiles and is easily oxidized. Poly(pyrrole) is also one of the most studied conjugated polymers and is highly stable in its conductive and oxidized (doped) form. A facile way to create functional pyrrole monomers and materials is to conduct nucleophilic aromatic substitution with its conjugate base. This produces N-Ar bond formation and it is possible to efficiently synthesize complex multipyrrole monomers and electroactive chromophores. Additionally, poly(pyrrole) core-shell particles have been produced with extraordinary actuator properties that are capable of 400% volume changes with oxidation. We have developed a novel method using different modulus gel structures to measure the force generated by the actuation of individual particles. Lastly, poly(pyrrole) core-shell particles can be functionalized with biomolecules using thiol-Michael addition reactions and these bio-conjugates can be used to create conformal films on a variety of substrates. We will detail the use of these materials in the formation of new lateral flow assays that can be powered and read by conventional smartphones using near-field RFID methods. These lateral flow assays are quantitative and the conducting polymer responses offer signal changes of the order of 700,000%, to create highly sensitive bio-assays.

Pyrrole-based conducting and optical materials

Fall 2022 abstracts, posters, and presentations will launch in mid-September.

ACS Fall 2022

The official archive and repository for all ACS Meetings & Expositions abstracts and select posters or presentations.