Abstract
This paper presents the development of new cost-effective hybrid-type sulfonated poly(1,4-phenylene ether-ether-sulfone) (SPEES) and functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) based actuators produced by the film-casting method followed by chemical reduction of Pt ions as electrodes. The preparation of SPEES was investigated in details and sulfonation of polymer was characterized by ion exchange capacity (IEC), Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) and degree of sulfonation measurements. SPEES having degree of sulfonation of 126% was blended with SWNT and used to fabricate IPMC actuator. The chemical composition and detailed structure of SPEES-SWNT ionic polymer membranes were confirmed by FTIR, EDX and transmittance electron microscopy (TEM) analysis. Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) micrographs revealed the homogeneously distributed layers of Pt electrodes on the surfaces of IPMC membrane. The electrochemical and electromechanical properties of SPEES-SWNT-Pt-based IPMC actuator shows a better actuation performance than conventional IPMC actuators in terms of higher IEC, Proton conductivity, higher current density, electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS), and large bending deflection. The robust, flexible and mechanically strong membranes prepared by the synergistic combination of SPEES and SWNT may have considerable potential as actuator materials for robotic and biomimetic applications.
Highlights
In biomedical frameworks and naturally enlivened robots[7,8,9,10,11]
PEES was chemically modified by a sulfonation reaction to increase the much required hydrophilicity so that it can be used for the fabrication of IPMC actuator
The SPEES-SWNT ionomeric membrane was immersed in hot water (80 °C) for 24 h and it was found that membrane was completely stable for further characterization
Summary
Composite Actuator based on Sulfonated Poly(1,4-phenylene ether-ether-sulfone)/Carbon. This paper presents the development of new cost-effective hybrid-type sulfonated poly(1,4-phenylene ether-ether-sulfone) (SPEES) and functionalized single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) based actuators produced by the film-casting method followed by chemical reduction of Pt ions as electrodes. In view of the above discussion, a novel and effective ionic actuator was developed by sandwiching sulfonated poly(1,4-phenylene ether-ether-sulfone)/SWNT (SPEES-SWNT) membrane between platinum metal electrode and its electrochemical characterization and performance at low applied voltage was exploited. A combination of large surface area and electrical conductivity of the individual functionalized CNT nanoparticles and excellent electrochemical properties of the composite materials provides good physiochemical properties and actuation performance to the prepared IPMC membranes. To fabricate the IPMC actuator SPEES-SWNT based polymer membrane was sandwiched between conductive metal ions (Pt metal) as an electrode by the electroless plating or chemical reduction method as reported by A. To find out the repeatability and to check the performance of the proposed IPMC multiple experiments were conducted such as bending actuation, deflection hysteresis, normal distribution and load characterization
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