The Morphology-Actuation Relationships in Ionic Polymer-Metal Composite (IPMC) Membranes Cast with an Ionic Liquid

摘要

Ionic Polymer-Metal Composites or IPMCs, are one type of electroactive polymers that display remarkable shape-altering properties. Most IPMCs are made up of a polymer membrane contained within metal electrodes, which are typically gold or platinum. When an IPMC is hydrated, counter-ions can move freely away from stationary anions toward an electrode when an electric current is induced. This is due to the hydrating liquid's effect of solvating the cation. The result is the IPMC's deflection toward the anode. IPMC membranes have advantages over traditional actuators in the fact that they lack moving parts and require very small voltages to operate.