LAUSR

Abstract We synthesized core-shell structured conducting polystyrene/poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) (PS/PEDOT) microspheres and examined their electro-responsive electrorheological (ER) properties under an applied electric field when dispersed in a silicone oil. Monodisperse PS particles 1.05 μm in diameter were initially fabricated via dispersion polymerization, and PS/PEDOT microspheres with average diameters of approximately 1.07 μm were prepared by a swelling-diffusion-interfacial polymerization process. The morphology of the PS/PEDOT microspheres was confirmed by both field emission scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy, while their chemical structure was characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. Formation of particle chains in the ER fluid was directly observed by optical microscopy under an applied electric field. The rheological behavior of the PS/PEDOT particle-based ER fluid was examined using a rotational rheometer on particles dispersed in silicone oil at a volume fraction of 10%. As the electric field was strengthened, the performance of the ER fluid was also enhanced. The dielectric spectra were also well correlated to their ER effects using an LCR meter.