Enhancing Performance Stability of Electroactive Polymers by Vapor-Deposited Organic Networks

Disclosed are compositions of electroactive polymers (EAPs) having improved performance stability. In the EAP compositions, a cross-linked polymer is deposited onto the surface of the EAP by vapor-deposition methods. Upon contact with an aqueous solution (e.g., an aqueous electrolyte solution), the vapor-deposited polymeric network becomes a hydrogel that encapsulates the EAPs. By modulating precursors and vapor deposition conditions, the mesh size of the resultant hydrogel coatings can be controlled to accommodate the key species that interact with the EAPs.