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

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.