Wang, Hyuck Sik Cho, Jaehyun Song, Dae Seok Jang, Jong Hyun Jho, Jae Young Park, Jong Hyuk 2024-01-20T01:02:53Z 2024-01-20T01:02:53Z 2021-09-05 2017-07-05 1944-8244 https://pubs.kist.re.kr/handle/201004/122539 Ionic polymer metal composites (IPMCs) have been proposed as biomimetic actuators that are operable at low applied voltages. However, the bending strain and generating force of the IPMC actuators have generally exhibited a trade-off relationship, whereas simultaneous enhancement of both the qualities is required for their practical applications. Herein, a significant improvement in both the strain and force of the IPMC actuators is achieved by a facile approach, exploiting thickness-controlled ion-exchange membranes and nanodispersed metal electrodes. To guarantee a large generating force of the IPMC actuators, ultrathick ion-exchange membranes are prepared by stacking pre-extruded Nafion Ems. Metal electrodes with a nanodispersed structure are formed on the membranes via alcohol-assisted electroless plating, which allows increased capacitance and facilitated ion transport. The resulting actuators exhibit greatly enhanced electromechanical properties, including an approximately four times larger strain and two times larger force compared to those of actuators having the conventional structure. Moreover, the ability to lift 16 coins (a weight of 124 g) has been successfully demonstrated using ultrathick IPMC actuators, which shows great promise in realizing artificial muscles. English American Chemical Society ARTIFICIAL MUSCLES BIOMIMETIC SENSORS IPMC ACTUATORS MEMBRANE High-Performance Electroactive Polymer Actuators Based on Ultrathick Ionic Polymer Metal Composites with Nanodispersed Metal Electrodes Article 10.1021/acsami.7b04779 1 ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces, v.9, no.26, pp.21998 - 22005 ACS Applied Materials & Interfaces 9 26 21998 22005 scie scopus 000405159100045 2-s2.0-85021941239 Nanoscience & Nanotechnology Materials Science, Multidisciplinary Science & Technology - Other Topics Materials Science Article ARTIFICIAL MUSCLES BIOMIMETIC SENSORS IPMC ACTUATORS MEMBRANE electroactive polymer actuator ionic polymer-metal composite nanodispersed metal electrode alcohol-assisted electroless plating