Manufacturing and Actuation Characterization of Ionic Polymer Metal Composites with Silver as Electrodes

摘要

Manufacturing and characterization of ionic polymer metal composites (IPMCs) with silver as electrodes have been investigated. Tollen's reagent that contains ion Ag(NH_3)_2~+ was used as a raw material for silver deposition on the surfaces of the polymer membrane Nafion®. Two types of inner solvents, namely common water based electrolyte solution (LiOH 1N) and ionic liquid were used and investigated. Compared to IPMCs with platinum electrodes, silver-plated IPMCs with water electrolyte showed higher conductivity. The actuation response of silver-plated IPMCs with the water based electrolyte was faster than that of platinum IPMCs. However, the silver electrode was too brittle and severely damaged during the solvent exchange process from water to ionic liquid, resulted in high resistance and hence very low actuation behavior.