Ionic polymer metal composite actuators employing irradiation-crosslinked sulfonated poly(styrene-ran-ethylene) as ion-exchange membranes

Xuanlun Wang; Tai-Hong Cheng; Liang Xu; Il-Kwon Oh

doi:10.1117/12.839987

20 October 2009 Ionic polymer metal composite actuators employing irradiation-crosslinked sulfonated poly(styrene-ran-ethylene) as ion-exchange membranes

Xuanlun Wang, Tai-Hong Cheng, Liang Xu, Il-Kwon Oh

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 7493, Second International Conference on Smart Materials and Nanotechnology in Engineering; 74933N (2009) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.839987
Event: Second International Conference on Smart Materials and Nanotechnology in Engineering, 2009, Weihai, China

Abstract

Ionic polymer metal composites (IPMC) are soft polymeric smart materials having large displacement at low voltage in moist environments or water. This type of actuators consists of an ionic membrane and noble metal electrodes plated on both surfaces. The ion-exchange membrane, Nafion, remains as the benchmark for a majority of research and development in IPMC technology. In this research, we employed sulfonated poly(styrene-ran-ethylene) (SPSE) that is crosslinked by UV irradiation as a novel ionic membrane. The crosslinking reaction between polymer matrix and crosslinking agent was proved by FTIR analysis. The sulfonic acid groups were stable during the UV irradiation crosslinking process. Water uptake, ion exchange capacity, and sulfonation degree are characterized for both pure SPSE and crosslinked SPSE membrane. The bending responses of SPSE actuators under both direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) excitations were investigated. The voltage-current behaviors of the actuators under AC excitations are also measured. Results showed the crosslinked SPSE actuators have better electromechanical performance than that of pure SPSE actuator with regard to tip displacement.

Citation Download Citation

Xuanlun Wang, Tai-Hong Cheng, Liang Xu, and Il-Kwon Oh "Ionic polymer metal composite actuators employing irradiation-crosslinked sulfonated poly(styrene-ran-ethylene) as ion-exchange membranes", Proc. SPIE 7493, Second International Conference on Smart Materials and Nanotechnology in Engineering, 74933N (20 October 2009); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.839987

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