title: Photoactive proton conductor: poly(4-vinyl pyridine) gel.
abstract: We describe a hydrogen-bonded poly(4-vinyl pyridine)-based dielectric material, in which conductivity can be induced due to the presence of side-chain protonated species that form spontaneously when the polymer is dissolved in pyridine. The conductivity of the proton conductive gel can be controlled by direct irradiation at the proton-transfer center: a reversible change of conductivity was observed in response to the on/off switching of 385 nm wavelength radiation. Over most of the range of intensities used, the proton conductivity exhibited a bimolecular character. We present a model of the protonated pyridine side-chain unit in the ground and excited states (DFT level). In the ground state, the protonated pyridine moiety has a cyclic, conjugated structure.
authors.affiliation: Department of Inorganic and Analytical Chemistry and the Farkas Center for Light-Induced Processes, The Hebrew University of Jerusalem, 91904, Jerusalem, Israel.
authors.forename: Naum
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Berestetsky
authors.forename: Evgenia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Vaganova
authors.forename: Ellen
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Wachtel
authors.forename: Gregory
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leitus
authors.forename: Alexander
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Goldberg
authors.forename: Shlomo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yitzchaik