Ionic Polymer Metal Composite Research Articles

Adulteration of Milk Identification Using Ionic Polymer Metal Composite as Sensor

Milk adulteration is found as one of the social problems throughout the globe. Consumption of adulterated milk causes various diseases in humans and great concern to the food industry. Adulteration is generally done by adding chemicals to the milk, especially water. Inappropriately, milk is being very easily adulterated throughout the world and significantly worse in developing and underdeveloped countries due to the absence of adequate monitoring and lack of proper law implementation. The international and national research surveys presented the use of various electrochemical, nanomaterial, and thermal sensing mechanisms for the detection of adulteration in milk (example: spectroscopic methods, thermal sensors, chitosan-multiwalled carbon nanotubes, etc.). However, the ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) is used as a sensor or actuator; for this application, IPMC is explored as a sensor for detecting the impurities in milk. IPMC used in this experiment is Nafion base, which is a sulfonated tetrafluoroethylene based fluoropolymer-copolymer. In this letter, the authors took the opportunity to use the electroactive polymer material IPMC as a taste sensor.

Electrochemo-poromechanics of Ionic Polymer Metal Composites: Towards the Accurate Finite Element Modelling of Actuation and Sensing

Ionic polymer metal composites (IPMCs) consist of an electroactive polymeric membrane, which is plated with metal electrodes and includes a fluid phase of ions in a solvent, whose diffusion allows for actuation and sensing applications. We build on a previous finite-deformation theory of our group that accounts for the cross-diffusion of ions and solvent and couples the mass balances of these species with the stress balance and the Gauss law. Here, we abandon the assumption that the fluid phase is a dilute solution, with benefits on both modelling and computation. A reliable finite element (FE) implementation of electrochemomechanical theories for IPMCs is challenging because the IPMC behaviour is governed by boundary layers (BLs) occurring in tiny membrane regions adjacent to the electrodes, where steep gradients of species concentrations occur. We address this issue by adopting the generalized FE method to discretise the BLs. This allows unprecedented analyses of the IPMC behaviour since it becomes possible to explore it under external actions consistent with applications, beside obtaining accurate predictions with a reasonable computational cost. Hence, we provide novel results concerning the influence of the membrane permittivity on the species profiles at the BLs. Additionally, by leveraging on the mobility matrix, we establish that the initial peak deflection in actuation strongly depends on the constitutive equations for the species transport and discuss the predictions of some experimental results from the literature. Overall, we demonstrate the potential of the proposed model to be an effective tool for the thorough analysis and design of IPMCs.

Improved ionic and mechanical properties of ion-exchange membrane with an ionic silica network for high-performance ionic polymer-metal composites

Ion-exchange membranes considerably affect the actuation of ionic polymer–metal composites (IPMCs) through ion movement under an applied voltage. To enhance the performances of IPMCs, previous studies have increased the ionic content of the ion-exchange membrane, thereby improving its ionic conductivity and water uptake. Although this increased ionic content enhances IPMC displacement, the increased water uptake diminishes IPMC stiffness, resulting in decreased IPMC blocking force. Therefore, a new approach is needed to resolve the trade-off between displacement and force. Here, we reinforced the Nafion membrane by forming a sulfonated polysilsesquioxane structure inside. The incorporation of this ionic silica network increased the total ion content of the membrane and included silica as a mechanically reinforcing filler. The force of the IPMC can be enhanced despite increased water uptake by the membrane. Therefore, IPMCs were obtained with improvements in displacement and blocking force. Comparison of the IPMCs with commercial Nafion films revealed similar displacement and superior force, demonstrating their applicability. These findings represent a breakthrough in enhancing the actuation of IPMCs while resolving the trade-off between displacement and force.

Deformation Performance of Pt-IPMC Based on Experiment and Simulation Research

Ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) is an intelligent material that can bend rapidly to produce large deformation and large strain when subjected to external electrical stimulation. And it is widely used in the actuation of underwater bionic robots. In this paper, two sets of IPMCs were fabricated by chemical reduction on the surface of commercial Nafion films. An experimental platform was built, the maximum displacement of IPMCs was 13.07 mm and the maximum output force was 12.14 mN, and it is found that IPMCs with high driving performance could generate displacements of 3.47 mm∼0.26 mm under high frequency voltage. The piezoelectric bicrystal model of IPMC was constructed and validated by Pearson correlation, proving that the model can effectively predict the experimental values and providing theoretical support for the subsequent research on the tail fin drive of IPMC miniature robot fish.

Ionic Polymer Metal Composite Based Smart Tongue Using Machine Learning

Ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC)-based new type of taste sensing technology is focused on this study. The developed sensor can sense five taste senses (salty, sweetness, spicy, bitterness, and sourness) artificially. Development of electronic tongue using Nafion-based IPMC strip (Pt-electroded) is the background philosophy for the current finding. Due to the hydrophilic nature of the perfluorinated polymer membrane, IPMC strips while immersed into test solutions, cations like Li <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">+</sup> , Na <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">+</sup> , K <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">+</sup> , H <sub xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">3</sub> O <sup xmlns:mml="http://www.w3.org/1998/Math/MathML" xmlns:xlink="http://www.w3.org/1999/xlink">+</sup> , etc., diffused into the polymer layer penetrating through the Pt-electrode surface of the IPMC and rearranged inside the polymer matrix. Bending of IPMC strip produces a small potential difference in millivolt (mV), which is developed across two Pt-electroded sides of IPMC. The output voltage across two electrode sides of IPMC for different taste samples of different concentration shows distinct voltage pattern and is measured in terms of potential difference across the Pt-electrode of IPMC. K-nearest neighbor classification approach of machine learning is useful for the identification of unknown taste agents. The average performance index of the developed machine learning model for the prediction of basic taste is 93.45%. Due to the nontoxic nature of IPMC, taste identification of different food contents would be feasible using this sensing technology.

Rapid Preparation of Novel Ionic Polymer-Metal Composite for Improving Humidity Sensing Effect.

Ionic polymer-metal composites (IPMCs) have attracted attention in recent years due to their integration of actuation and sensing functions. As one of the main sensing functions of IPMCs, humidity sensing has been of consistent interest in wearable health monitors and artificial skin. However, there are still some technical challenges in that classical IPMCs have poor humidity sensing performance due to their dense surface electrode, and IPMCs are damaged easily due to an electrode/membrane mismatch. In this work, through the spraying and electrodepositing process, we developed an efficient method to rapidly prepare a Au-shell-Ag-NW (silver nanowire)-based IPMC with high strength, low surface resistance and excellent humidity sensing performance. Meanwhile, we optimized the preparation method by clarifying the influence of solvent type and electrodepositing time on the performance of the Au-shell-Ag-NW-based IPMC, thus effectively improving the humidity sensing effect and strength of the IPMC. Compared with previous research, the humidity electrical response (~9.6 mV) of the Au-shell-Ag-NW-based IPMC is at least two orders of magnitude higher than that of the classical IPMC (~0.41 mV), which is mainly attributed to the sparse gap structure for promoting the exchange of water molecules in the environment and Nafion membrane, a low surface resistance (~3.4 Ohm/sq) for transmitting the signal, and a seamless connection between the electrode and Nafion membrane for fully collecting the ion charges in the Nafion membrane. Additionally, the Au-shell-Ag-NW-based IPMC could effectively monitor the human breathing process, and the humidity sensing performance did not change after being exposed to the air for 4 weeks, which further indicates that the Au-shell-Ag-NW-based IPMC has good application potential due to its efficient preparation technology, high stability and good reproducibility.

Manufacturing thin ionic polymer metal composite for sensing at the microscale

Ionic polymer metal composites (IPMCs) are a class of materials with a rising appeal in biological micro-electromechanical systems (bio-MEMS) due to their unique properties (low voltage output, bio-compatibility, affinity with ionic medium). While tailoring and improving actuation capabilities of IPMCs is a key motivator in almost all IPMC manufacturing reports, very little efforts have been dedicated to sensing using IPMC thinner than 100 µm. Most reports on IPMC manufacturing and utilization rely on 180 µm-thick Nafion with platinum electrodes, too stiff for bio-MEMS applications. The same fabrication process on thinner membranes does yield in very poor electrodes and performance, and needs to be studied to increase flexibility and sensitivity in the microscale range. This study demonstrates an electroless Pt deposition method for fabricating bio-MEMS-suitable 50 µm-thick IPMC samples. First, we perform a comparative study on the platinum distribution within the Nafion backbone as well as on the surface for the standard electroless deposition recipe for thin (50 µm) and thick (180 µm) Nafion. We report strong differences in platinum distribution for thick and thin IPMC that experienced the same manufacturing process. By varying chemical concentrations from the standard recipe we obtain convenient platinum distribution on thin Nafion, with platinum mainly localized in proximity of surface, as well as electrodes with lower sheet resistance. We could measure the flexural rigidity as N·m2, 46 times lower than standard 180 µm-thick IPMC. The calculated sensitivity is 0.476 ± 0.02 mV mm−1 and the limit of detection for our sensor is 500 ± 20 µm. This procedure sets a milestone for manufacturing 50 µm-thick IPMC for transducers and sensors in bio-MEMS applications.

Review of Soft Actuators Controlled with Electrical Stimuli: IPMC, DEAP, and MRE

Soft actuators have been developed for a variety of applications, including soft grippers, artificial muscles, wearables, tactile devices, and medical devices. In this review, we will discuss a group of chemical materials and their robotic applications in soft actuators controlled with electrical stimuli. Soft actuators provide a deformable body and allow interaction with the environment to achieve the desired actuation pattern. We will also discuss the principles of operation and functionality and focus on important real-life applications of three groups of soft actuators: ionic polymer–metal composites (IPMCs), dielectric electroactive polymers (DEAPs), and magnetorheological elastomers (MREs). This review article aims to provide researchers interested in the field of soft robotics with a guide to various state-of-the-art chemistry methods used in electrically activated soft actuators, as well as the application areas for such devices.

Enhanced Ionic Polymer-Metal Composites with Nanocomposite Electrodes for Restoring Eyelid Movement of Patients with Ptosis.

The present study aims to use enhanced ionic polymer-metal composites (IPMC) as an artificial muscle (a soft-active actuator) to restore eyelid movement of patients with ptosis. The previous eyelid movement mechanisms contained drawbacks, specifically in the lower eyelid. We used finite element analysis (FEA) to find the optimal mechanism among two different models (A and B). In addition to common electrodes of IPMC (gold and platinum), the bovine serum albumin (BSA) and microcrystalline cellulose (MCC) polymers, with optimal weight percentages of carbon nanotube (CNT) nanofiller, were also utilized as non-metallic electrodes to improve the efficiency of the IPMC actuator. In both models, IPMC with nanocomposite electrodes had higher efficiency as compared to the metallic electrodes. In model A, which moved eyelids indirectly, IPMC with MCC-CNT electrode generated a higher force (25.4%) and less stress (5.9 times) as compared to IPMC with BSA-CNT electrode. However, the use of model A (even with IPMCs) with nanocomposite electrodes can have limitations such as possible malposition issues in the eyelids (especially lower). IPMC with MCC-CNT nanocomposite electrode under model B, which moved eyelids directly, was the most efficient option to restore eyelid movement. It led to higher displacements and lower mechanical stress damage as compared to the BSA-CNT. This finding may provide surgeons with valuable data to open a window in the treatment of patients with ptosis.

Low-Voltage Driven Ionic Polymer-Metal Composite Actuators: Structures, Materials, and Applications.

With the characteristics of low driving voltage, light weight, and flexibility, ionic polymer-metal composites (IPMCs) have attracted much attention as excellent candidates for artificial muscle materials in the fields of biomedical devices, flexible robots, and microelectromechanical systems. Under small voltage excitation, ions inside the IPMC proton exchange membrane migrate directionally, leading to differences in the expansion rate of the cathode and the anode, which in turn deform. This behavior is caused by the synergistic action of a three-layer structure consisting of an external electrode layer and an internal proton exchange membrane, but the electrode layer is more dominant in this process due to the migration and storage of ions. The exploration of modifications and alternatives for proton exchange membranes and recent advances in the fabrication and characterization of conductive materials, especially carbon-based materials and conductive polymers, have contributed significantly to the development of IPMCs. This paper reviews the progress in the application of proton exchange membranes and electrode materials for IPMCs, discusses various processes currently applied to IPMCs preparation, and introduces various promising applications of cutting-edge IPMCs with high performance to provide new ideas and approaches for the research of new generation of low-voltage ionic soft actuators.

Design of Laboratory Stand for Displacement Measurement of IPMC Actuators.

The polymer technology based on Electroactive polymers and metal composite ionic polymer has great potential and advantages in many engineering fields. In this paper, a laboratory stand for testing Ionic polymer-metal composites (IPMC) is presented. The laboratory station includes a power supply system and a measuring system for the displacement of IPMC composites. Tests and measurements are carried out using a laser transducer and a camera equipped with image analysis software to determine the IPMC strips displacement. The experimental investigation of IPMCs under different voltage supplies and waveforms, environmental working humidity conditions, temperature, and loading conditions has proved the significant influence of geometric dimension and the effect of increased stress on the displacement value. For materials powered by a higher voltage value, an increased deflection value was noted. In case of displacement, longer is the sample, higher is the displacement value. The length of the sample under load, affects adversely its performance, resulting in an increase in the load on the sample. For samples of a thick size, a more stable movement with and without load can be noticed.

Cavity-Backed Double H-Slot Antenna With IPMC Flaps for Designing Frequency-Switchable On/In-Metal Semi-Active Tag

A frequency-switchable semiactive tag antenna that can perform well on both the on- and in-metal platforms is proposed. A double H-slot antenna has been employed for designing the tag, and it can be easily made using a copper-clad polyimide film. The proposed antenna structure has a backing metallic cavity, which has made the read performance very robust even being used for the in-metal platform. To achieve the frequency reconfiguration, the ionic polymer–metal composite (IPMC) actuators are coated with metal, and they are tactfully integrated with a double H-slot antenna for changing its shape. The IPMC flaps can be actuated with a low operating voltage for switching the tag antenna across the U.S. and EU radio frequency identification (RFID) passbands. A water-embedded substrate that consists of a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) container filled up with water has also been employed for miniaturizing the antenna. Good maximum read ranges (> 10 m) have been achieved for all cases.

Physics-based irrational transfer function of IPMC sensor output voltage⋆

Ionic Polymer-Metal Composite (IPMC) sensors are a kind of soft and wet polymeric sensors and are expected to be used in soft robotics. Zhu's model is one of the most promising physical models for IPMC sensors and is represented by a set of partial differential equations for cation concentration, water concentration, and potential. This paper first derives the exact solution of Zhu's sensor voltage model using the Laplace transform. Specifically, this paper derives irrational (infinite-dimensional) transfer functions from the deformation curvature to the outputs such as the cation concentration, the water concentration, the electric potential, and the sensor output voltage. The obtained frequency response of the sensor voltage is confirmed to be consistent with that of the finite element method in a previous study. Furthermore, this paper derives the DC gain and the peak gain of the transfer function of the open-circuit sensor voltage.

A Torsion-Bending Antagonistic Bistable Actuator Enables Untethered Crawling and Swimming of Miniature Robots.

Miniature robots show great potential in exploring narrow and confined spaces to perform various tasks, but many applications are limited by the dependence of these robots on electrical or pneumatic tethers to power supplies outboard. Developing an onboard actuator that is small in size and powerful enough to carry all the components onboard is a major challenge to eliminate the need for a tether. Bistability can trigger a dramatic energy release during switching between the 2 stable states, thus providing a promising way to overcome the intrinsic limitation of insufficient power of small actuators. In this work, the antagonistic action between torsional deflection and bending deflection in a lamina emergent torsional joint is utilized to achieve bistability, yielding a buckling-free bistable design. The unique configuration of this bistable design enables integrating of a single bending electroactive artificial muscle in the structure to form a compact, self-switching bistable actuator. A low-voltage ionic polymer-metal composites artificial muscle is employed, yielding a bistable actuator capable of generating an instantaneous angular velocity exceeding 300 °/s by a 3.75-V voltage. Two untethered robotic demonstrations using the bistable actuator are presented, including a crawling robot (gross weight of 2.7 g, including actuator, battery, and on-board circuit) that can generate a maximum instantaneous velocity of 40 mm/s and a swimming robot equipped with a pair of origami-inspired paddles that swims breaststroke. The low-voltage bistable actuator shows potential for achieving autonomous motion of various fully untethered miniature robots.

Experimental Investigation of Electro-Mechanical Behavior of Silver-Coated Teflon Fabric-Reinforced Nafion Ionic Polymer Metal Composite with Carbon Nanotubes and Graphene Nanoparticles.

Ionic Polymer Metal Composites (IPMCs) are in high demand owing to the ongoing advancements in technology for various applications. New fabrication techniques and a quick retort towards the applied load are the significant reasons for considering IPMCs in smart devices. Here, a Teflon fabric-reinforced Nafion (TFRN) membrane is used to create an IPMC. The materials employed as electrodes are silver and nanofillers. The basement membrane, Nafion 438 (N-438), is sandwiched between the electrodes using a chemical decomposition technique. Subsequently, the electromechanical properties (actuation) of the membrane are tested. The micro and molecular structure of the IPMC membrane coated with Silver (Ag), Ag-Carbon nanotubes (CNTs), and Ag-Graphene nanoparticles samples are examined with the help of SEM and X-ray diffraction (XRD). The membrane scratch test is carried out to evaluate the abrasion and wear resistance of the membrane. The lowest coefficient of friction is shown by N438 + Ag + Graphene (0.05), which increased by 300% when compared to a pure N438 membrane. The hydration and tip deflection test were also performed to understand the water uptake percentage. At 90 °C, the highest water uptake was observed for N438 + Ag + Graphene (0.05), which decreased by 60, 42, 23, 14 and 26% when compared to N438, N438 + Ag, N438 + Ag + CNT (0.01), N438 + Ag + CNT (0.05) and N438 + Ag + Graphene (0.01), respectively. A proportional relationship between hydration level and tip deflection is observed and the highest bending performance is observed for the N438 + Ag + Graphene (0.05) membrane.

Highly Sensitive and Stable Encapsulated Ionic Polymer–Metal Composite Sensor Under the Optimal Water Content

Sensitivity and stability are crucial for sensors in practical applications. For ionic polymer–metal composite (IPMC) sensors, these properties are closely related to inner water molecules, due to the unique composite structure. In this article, a technique for encapsulating IPMC sensors under the optimal water content is proposed for the first time. First, by means of gravimetric analysis, the amount of water removed from the saturated IPMC sensor by evaporation was measured to acquire the optimal water content. Second, IPMC sensors were encapsulated by polyolefin (POF) shrink film under the optimal water content (denoted as IPMC-OE). The results manifest that the sensing property obviously increased after quantitative removal of water molecules (i.e., the ratios of water lost range from 1.8 to 3.6). The sensitivity of IPMC-OE is 4–6 times higher than that of the naked IPMC sensor not encapsulated by a polymer film (denoted as IPMC-N). Besides, the stability of IPMC-OE has also been evidently enhanced. The proposed method is a simple, low-cost, and facile strategy. The IPMC-OE sensors maintain high signal strength and stable output signal after up to 19000 deformation cycles. Moreover, apart from underwater detection of biomimetic robotic fish and UUV, the monitoring of wrist pulse, breathing, and finger bending has also been accomplished in the air by IPMC-OE sensors. It is also proved that sensing in media ranging from water to air and a physical quantity ranging from displacement to water flow velocity can be realized. The article guides the performance optimization and practical application of IPMC sensors.

Influence of environmental conditions and voltage application on the electromechanical performance of Nafion-Pt IPMC actuators

Ionic polymer–metal composites (IPMCs) are a class of ionic-type electroactive polymers which can be configured as capacitor actuators with very low voltage requirements (⩽5 V AC or DC). Their compact, portable, and lightweight properties, coupled with a biomimetic bending actuation response, makes them ideal for human–machine integrated technologies such as medical implants, active skins, and artificial muscles. Unfortunately, IPMC actuator’s hydration-related sensitivity inhibits practical application in industry and makes experimental research difficult. Therefore, this research sought to quantify the hydration-related parameters of IPMC actuators by applying a wide range of experimental tests to characterize the material’s hydration-dependent features. This included saturation, dielectric, and bending actuation measurements. The IPMC’s degree of saturation properties were classified to establish sample rehydration, preparation, and preservation techniques. IPMC electrical-solvent properties were measured to estimate IPMC actuation performance based on capacitance and dissipation measurements. Maximized actuation was identified for samples tested in 95% RH (i.e. percentage relative humidity). This condition produced an optimized displacement range and retained quality. Through statistical analysis, the work showed large electroactive performance variability (up to 50% deviation), which is a primary obstacle inhibiting this technology from practical application. Finally, an array of electrical field bias applications (i.e. cycled, constant, and post voltage removal monitoring) at intensities ranging from 0.75 to 1.2 V (direct current voltage) were used to quantify actuation rate, maximum displacement, as well as voltage application and removal back-relaxation behavior.

Design and development of a novel piezoelectric caudal fin-like underwater thruster with a single vibration mode.

The flapping-motion of the caudal fin allows the fish to swim with high efficiency and mobility, particularly in terms of persistence, propulsion, and acceleration. This has led to theoretical and practical research on the development of robotic caudal fin thrusters that offer similar properties and performance. However, the current caudal fin thrusters are driven by electromagnetic motors, which require a transmission system that makes them difficult to miniaturize, and need protection against water intrusion. To address these issues, this paper proposes a novel piezoelectric caudal fin thruster with a fully open structure that has no chambers in any of its parts. The converse, piezoelectric effect and direct friction drive principle are used to make a rotation unit for the piezoelectric actuator drive and achieve a reciprocating motion that makes the caudal fin flap. The proposed piezoelectric caudal fin thruster has an open and simple structure. It has a weight of 30g, a length of 89mm, and a thrust of 0.07 N. It is easy to miniaturize and is lighter, smaller, and more efficient than previously reported caudal fin thrusters that were based on ionic polymer-metal composites and shape memory alloys. Experimental results verified the effectiveness of the proposed design, which can be easily scaled up or down in size depending on the operating situation.

Additive manufacture of ionic polymer–metal composite actuators using digital light processing techniques

PurposeThe purpose of this study is to develop a additive manufacturing (AM) process for the fabrication of ionic polymer–metal composite (IPMC) devices with complex designs that would be time-consuming to replicate using conventional manual methods. These IPMC devices have considerable potential in electroactive polymers (EAPs) and soft actuators.Design/methodology/approachThis paper presents a novel three–dimensional (3D) AM technique to develop IPMCs. Digital light processing (DLP) fabrication of soft EAPs was undertaken using a vat-based AM method, followed by deposition of cost-effective outer silver electrodes.FindingsDLP-fabricated devices were compared to conventional Nafion™-117 devices. DLP layer-by-layer fabrication of these devices allowed for good resolution for a range of printed objects. Electrical actuation of the DLP-produced IPMCs showed tip displacements of up to 3 mm, and greater actuation was seen in the presence of lithium rather than magnesium cations. The IMPCs showed good ion exchange capacities, while electrochemical analysis showed the reversible formation and removal of AgCl layers in addition to ion movement.Practical implicationsThe AM of these devices allows for rapid prototyping as well as potential use in the development of multiple degrees of freedom actuators and devices.Originality/valueAn original resin formulation was developed for DLP 3D printing. This formula is chemically distinct from the conventional Nafion™-117 membranes that can be purchased. Additionally, this method allows for the manufacture of complex objects that would be difficult to machine by hand. These findings are of value to both the fields of polymer chemistry and AM.

Plating of Ion‐Exchange Membranes: A Molecular Dynamics Study

AbstractElectroless plating of membranes offers a viable pathway to create flexible electrodes for soft sensors and actuators, as well as flexible electronics and batteries. Ionic polymer metal composites are a promising class of active materials, realized through electroless plating of ion‐exchange membranes. The plating and electrode‐membrane interface play a key role on their performance, but computational tools to inform the selection of the plating material and optimize the plating process are currently lacking. Here, this gap is filled through the study of the electrode‐membrane interface in different types of ion‐exchange membranes via molecular dynamics simulations. Both commercially available cation‐ and research‐grade anion‐exchange membranes are studied here. For platinum coating, it is predicted that cation‐exchange membranes will have a superior interface than anion‐exchange membranes, in terms of metal penetration into the membrane, reliability of actuation performance, and interface stability. The results are in line with previous endeavors documenting the higher stability of the interface for cation‐ than for anion‐exchange membranes, easier plating processes, and better electrochemical performance when working with cation‐exchange membranes. The proposed computational framework offers a versatile environment for testing different types of coatings for specific membranes, toward optimizing the performance of electrochemical devices with plated flexible electrodes.