Fabrication of gradient polymer surfaces using bipolar electrochemistry

This report focuses on recent developments using bipolar electrochemistry as an effective tool for the fabrication of gradient polymer surfaces. The electrochemical doping and reactions of conducting polymers under an applied potential distribution using bipolar electrodes have been carried out to prepare conducting polymers with composition gradients. Indirect electrolysis using an electrogenerated metal catalyst on bipolar electrodes successfully afforded gradually modified polymer surfaces and gradient polymer brushes using vinyl monomers. The newly designed cylinder bipolar electrode system is available for site-selective applications of electric potentials, which produced electrochemical patterning of conducting polymer films.