Effect of doping polyethylene oxide on the properties of Nafion-IPMC actuators

Abstract

In order to improve the actuation stability and non-water working time (NWT) of ionic polymer-metal composites (IPMCs) in the air, polyethylene oxide (PEO) with superior water retention ability was firstly blended into the Nafion matrix to enhance the water uptake capacity of the corresponding IPMCs. The influences of molecular weight of PEO on the water uptake ration, ion exchange ability and micromorphology of PEO/Nafion membranes, and the electromechanical properties of IPMCs were investigated in detail. The results showed that the water uptake ration of the Nafion membranes and the working stability of the IPMCs in the air were greatly improved. The IPMC with 200k molecular weight of PEO exhibited the optimal deformation properties, the highest volumetric work density, and a prolonged NWT. In addition, the high content substitution of Nafion by PEO can reduce the preparation cost of IPMC to some extent. Thus, we hope that the developed PEO/Nafion-IPMCs can be promising candidates for actuation applications in the fields of bionic robotics, space explorations, and medical devices.