Fabrication and characteristics of a multilayered ionic polymer metal composite based on Nafion/tetraethyl orthosilicate and Nafion/MCNT nanocomposites.

Abstract

Nafion/multi-walled carbon nanotubes (Nafion/MCNT) and Nafion/tetraethyl orthosilicate (Nafion/TEOS) nanocomposites were prepared and used as starting materials in the fabrication of an ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC). Experimental data show that the Nafion/MCNT-based IPMC exhibited a blocking force that is two times higher than that of bare Nafion-based IPMC. This higher blocking force is due to the stable homogeneous dispersions of multiwalled carbon nanotubes as well as to their improved conductivity. Meanwhile, the Nafion/TEOS-based IPMC generated a blocking force that is more than two times higher than that of bare Nafion-based IPMC because of the induced channels and increased water content. In this paper, a novel Nafion membrane containing a primary Nafion/TEOS layer sandwiched between two outer Nafion/MCNT nanocomposite layers was prepared by consecutive casting of liquid solutions. By using the multilayered Nafion membrane, IPMC was carefully fabricated by electroless plating. In addition, the blocking force, displacement, and electric current of the IPMC were measured on the test apparatus. The multilayered IPMC exhibited a significantly improved blocking force of 6.5 gf as well as a long effective air-operating life time. Finally, this multilayered IPMC was successfully used to actuate the robotic fish.