METHOD FOR TRANSFORMING DIELECTRIC MATERIALS INTO ELECTRICAL CONDUCTORS, ELECTRO-RESPONSIVE MATERIALS AND USES THEREOF

The present invention relates to the field of electro-responsive materials. More particularly, the invention relates to the field of dielectric materials, which are rendered electrical conductors. Against this background, the inventors have found that dielectric materials can be effectively modified into electro-responsive materials by means of synergistically applying an electro-thermal re-orientation treatment followed by charged gas activation. As a specific example, the performance of electrochemical sensors made from dielectric polymers and transformed by the proposed method has been successfully tested in the individual determination of dopamine. Thus, in a first aspect, the invention refers to a method for transforming a dielectric material into an electrical conductor, the method comprising a step of treating the dielectric material under an electro-response inducing procedure, wherein the electro-response inducing procedure comprises, in this specific order:  an electro-thermal re-orientation treatment; followed by  a charged gas activation treatment. In a second aspect, the invention refers to an electrical conductor made of a dielectric material, wherein the dielectric material is modified by an electro-response inducing procedure, and wherein the electro-response inducing procedure comprises, in this specific order:  an electro-thermal re-orientation treatment; followed by  a charged gas activation treatment. In a final aspect, the invention refers to the use, in an application that requires an electrical response, of an electrical conductor made of a dielectric material, wherein the dielectric material is modified by an electro-response inducing procedure, and wherein the electro-response inducing procedure comprises, in this specific order:  an electro-thermal re-orientation treatment; followed by  a charged gas activation treatment.