Ion transport in thermally responsive pectin film

Abstract

The ionic conductivity of CaCl2-crosslinked pectin was found to exhibit a record-high temperature response, suggesting its potential applications in wearable devices and infrared sensors [R. Di Giacomo et al., Sci. Rob. 2, eaai9251 (2017)]. However, little was known about its ion conduction mechanisms and the origin of its high-temperature sensitivity. In this study, we perform controlled experiments and identify calcium ions as the dominant current carriers. By analyzing infrared spectra at different temperatures, we find that the temperature response is due to changes in ion mobility, rather than variations in ion number density. We compare measurements and modeling results of nine different multivalent ions and find a positive correlation between their temperature responses and their binding energy to pectin. While these findings are fundamental in nature, they provide relevant guidance for the future design of temperature-sensitive polymers and other materials for organic electronics.