Comparative Assessment of Ionic Liquid‐Based Soft Actuators Prepared by Film Casting Versus Direct Ink Writing

Abstract

Multifunctional materials support many technological advances in materials science required by the increasing interactivity demand of the Internet of Things (IoT). [1] Among multifunctional materials, smart materials allow their implementation as sensing materials as they transduce different physicoÀchemical solicitations. Those materials include piezoelectric, pyroelectric, magnetostrictive, magnetoelectric, or shape memory materials, among others. [2] Electroactive polymers (EAPs) and their composites are an important class of smart materials applied in technological applications such as sensors and actuators, [3] biomedical, [4] environmental, [5] and energy harvesting [6] and storage applications, [7] among others, based on their active response but also on their tailorable mechanical, thermal, and chemical properties and versatility with respect to the processing techniques, including compatibility with additive manufacturing technologies.Within the EAP class, poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF) and their copolymers are the most relevant for many piezo-, pyro-, and ferroelectric applications and stand out in comparison with other polymers for their higher dielectric constant and piezoelectric coefficient,

Smart and Multifunctional Materials Based on Electroactive Poly(vinylidene fluoride): Recent Advances and Opportunities in Sensors, Actuators, Energy, Environmental, and Biomedical Applications

“…The efficiency of printed PVDF/IL electromechanical actuators obtained by direct ink printing comparatively to PVDF/IL films obtained by a solvent casting procedure was also studied through the development of printed and solvent casted PVDF-based materials incorporating the ILs 1-butyl-3methylimidazolium dicyanamide [Bmim][N(CN) 2 ] and 1butyl-3-methylimidazolium thiocyanate [Bmim][SCN]. 279 The efficiency and suitability of the printing technologies instead of the solvent casting method for the development of highperformance soft actuators is demonstrated by [Bmim][N-(CN) 2 ]/PVDF high displacement (7.5 mm) for an applied voltage of 4 Vpp at a frequency of 0.1 Hz (Figure 19a). The implementation of PVDF/IL printable materials in soft robotics was demonstrated by developing a printed micro gripper.…”

Ti3C2TX MXene Ink Direct Writing Flexible Sensors for Disposable Paper Toys

“…To date, a number of functional materials have been developed, including metal nanoparticles, [14] carbon nanomaterials, [8,15] and conductive polymers (PEDOT: PSS) [16] for expendably manufacturing flexible electronics on paper and textiles. Nevertheless, regarding ink formulation, additives are generally necessitated to enhance mechanical stability, adjust rheological properties, or increase the solubility of active materials.…”

Electroactive Polymers Obtained by Conventional and Non-Conventional Technologies

“…That response is intimately dependent according to several variables, including temperature, amount of electro-/ion-responsive entity source, nature of the polymeric network, the polymer's degree of crosslinking, the shape and thickness of the polymeric electro-responsive material, pH and ionic strength of surrounding media, intensity of the applied electrical stimulus, presence of plasticizers, and experimental setup (position of the electrodes relative to the electro-responsive material). Furthermore, the type of processing of electro-responsive materials also plays an essential role in determining the final properties and performance of the final material [6]. Most current EAPs systems have been designed by conventional processing technologies, namely solvent casting and free-radical polymerization.…”

“…Most current EAPs systems have been designed by conventional processing technologies, namely solvent casting and free-radical polymerization. The utilization of non-conventional procedures such as additive manufacturing (AM) techniques in the design of EAPs is a less of the final material [6]. Most current EAPs systems have been designed by conventional processing technologies, namely solvent casting and free-radical polymerization.…”