Development of sulfonated poly(vinyl alcohol)/polpyrrole based ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) actuator and its characterization

Abstract

In the present study, a novel sulfonated poly(vinyl alcohol)/polypyrrole polymer membrane sandwiched between platinum (SPVA-Py-Pt) is fabricated for a bending actuator which can be used in microrobotic applications. To examine the suitability of SPVA-Py-Pt based ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) for microrobotic applications, ion exchange capacity (IEC), water uptake, proton conductivity, water loss, cyclic voltammetry (CV), linear sweep voltammetry (LSV), Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR), thermal stability, and tip displacement studies are performed. The water holding capacity of the IPMC membrane is found to be 82.23% at room temperature for 8 h of immersion time. The IEC and proton conductivity of the IPMC membrane is found to be 1.2 meq g−1 and 1.6 × 10−3 S cm−1, respectively. Maximum water loss from IPMC is achieved as 31% at 5 V for a time period of 16 min. Based on electromechanical characterization, the maximum tip displacement of SPVA-Py-Pt IPMC (size 30 mm length, 10 mm width, 0.08 mm thickness) is 18.5 mm at 5.25 V. The major advantages of this new type of IPMC are good film-forming capability, short processing time, low cost of fabrication, good flexibility, high thermo-mechanical stabilities, good ion exchange and water holding capacities and proton conductivity as compared to other types of IPMC actuators. The comparison with other type of IPMC actuators is also summarized. A multi SPVA-Py-Pt IPMC based micro-gripping system is developed that shows the potential of microrobotic applications.

Development, Characterization and Electromechanical Actuation Behavior of Ionic Polymer Metal Composite Actuator based on Sulfonated Poly(1,4-phenylene ether-ether-sulfone)/Carbon Nanotubes

“…12). The observed current density of the fabricated SPEES-SWNT-Pt-based IPMC membrane was remarkably higher than several other reported so far IPMC, 1,12,30 . The higher current density in the fabricated IPMC may be due to the addition of electrically conductive alkyl-modified SWNT, which increase the charge transfer due to increase in surface area for chemical reaction.…”

“…The water uptake (WU) and proton conductivity (PC) of the developed polymer membranes were measured, as reported by Inamuddin et al . 12 . The Fourier transforms infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) of SPEES and SPEES-SWNT membranes were recorded between 500–4000 cm −1 using Spectrometer (Perkin Elmer Spectrometer).…”

“…A voltage difference across the electrodes generates an electric field that initiates the actuation within IPMC membrane. Due to large-scale deflections with modest operating voltage and ability to exhibit bio-mimetic flexibility, contrary to conventional actuator like motors, IPMCs have elevated the prospects of their adoption in robotics applications 12–14 . Despite its slow response time, several intricate schemes and work have been carried out to overcome these routes.…”

Design and development of non‐perfluorinated ionic polymer metal composite‐based flexible link manipulator for robotics assembly

“…To check the physical and chemical properties of developed IPMC membrane actuator WH capacity, IEC, PC, water loss and degree of sulfonation (%) (DS) were determined as reported earlier . The detail description of WH, IEC, PC and DS are provided in Supporting Information S1–S3 .…”

Thorium (IV) phosphate‐polyaniline composite‐based hydrophilic membranes for bending actuator application

“…Besides having good actuation performances, that is, large strain or displacement and quick response under applied electric potential, there are still some inherent drawbacks which limit its practical applications, such as high cost, low water‐retention capability, low actuation force, back‐relaxation under direct current (dc) voltage, environment‐unfriendliness, fixed ion exchange capacity (IEC), and PC. Therefore, many easily synthesizable and inexpensive non perfluorinated polymer membranes have been used in IPMC actuators to replace Nafion membranes .…”