Welcome to the Irvin Group Web Page!

Our research is centered around electroactive polymers, that is, polymers that change their properties in the presence of an electric field.  These polymers are useful for sensors, charge storage, drug delivery, static dissipation, corrosion inhibition, actuators, and electrochromics, among other things.  We are particularly interested in:

·        synthesis of novel n-doping polymers with enhanced stability.

·        improving understanding of ion movement into and out of electroactive polymers in an electric field and using that understanding to improve polymer properties.

·        using electroactive polymers to develop charge storage devices as alternatives to traditional batteries and capacitors.

·        ionic liquid electrolytes to enhance stability of electroactive polymer-based devices.

·        nanoscale templating approaches to enhance electroactivity.

Students in the group have the opportunity to develop a broad range of useful capabilities including:

·         Synthesis of novel organic molecules such as functionalized heterocycles

·         Polymerization (oxidative, non-oxidative, electrochemical)

·         Standard organic and polymer characterization techniques

·         Electrochemical characterization

·         Device fabrication and testing