Electrochemistry of Poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) coated polyvinyl alcohol (PEDOT/PVA) films as a model for the muscle functions quantification and triggering of sensing neuron pulses

Abstract

We present the PEDOT/PVA hybrid film as a model reactive material capable of emulating the sensing functionalities originated by the reactive elements in biological organs through the same reactants: macromolecular electro-chemical motors, ions, and solvent. Here we prove that the reaction energy responds to and senses at any reaction time, any variation in the electrical (current), chemical (electrolyte concentration), or thermal (temperature) working conditions. Under galvanostatic control, the sensing magnitude is the potential evolution during the material reaction. The sensing equations describing the experimental results were attained. Both magnitudes, the current driving the reaction, and the sensing signals (the potential evolution) are embedded simultaneously in the only two connecting wires, mimicking brain-motor neuron-muscle-sensory neuron connections. If translated to parallel biological functions the results should point to a quantitative description of muscular tiredness: the same reaction amplitude requires higher energies under lower concentrations of one of the reactants, i.e. ATP. For a constant reaction amplitude the consumed reaction energy decreases when the reaction temperature increases, indicating the parallel energy-saving mechanisms of cold-blooded animal organs. If the reaction energy of the macromolecular motors adjusts instantaneously to any working energetic conditions each of those components should act on the concomitant sensing ionic channels (chemical, thermal, piezo) of the dendrites from the sensory neurons translating this quantitative information to the brain.