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1Research Center for Macromolecules and Biomaterials, National Institute for Materials Science, 1-1 Namiki, Tsukuba, Ibaraki, 305-0044, Japan. IKEDA.Taichi@nims.go.jp.
Scientific Reports
|October 4, 2023
Summary
New ionic polymer-metal composite (IPMC) actuators utilize gold nanowire (Au-NW) mesh electrodes for enhanced performance. Hot-pressing Au-NW mesh electrodes onto Nafion film significantly improves actuation displacement and capacitance.
Area of Science:
- Materials Science
- Nanotechnology
- Electromechanical Devices
Background:
- Ionic polymer-metal composite (IPMC) actuators are crucial for soft robotics and biomedical applications.
- Traditional IPMC fabrication involves time-consuming processes and less efficient electrodes.
- Gold nanowires (Au-NWs) offer unique electrical and mechanical properties for advanced materials.
Purpose of the Study:
- To develop a rapid fabrication method for IPMC actuators using gold nanowire mesh electrodes.
- To investigate the impact of Au-NW mesh electrodes on IPMC actuation performance compared to conventional electrodes.
- To understand the morphological transformation of Au-NWs under different stimuli and its effect on device performance.
Main Methods:
- Fabrication of IPMC actuators by hot-pressing Nafion film with gold nanowire (Au-NW) mesh electrodes.
- Preparation of reference IPMC actuators using gold foil (Au-foil) electrodes.
- Characterization of electrode properties (thickness, surface resistivity) and actuation performance (displacement, capacitance).
- Analysis of Au-NW morphological changes under thermal and thermomechanical stimuli.
Main Results:
- Hot-pressing enabled IPMC actuator fabrication within 1 hour.
- Au-NW mesh electrodes exhibited superior thinness and lower surface resistivity compared to electrolessly plated electrodes.
- IPMCs with Au-NW mesh electrodes showed a 60% larger peak-to-peak displacement than those with Au-foil electrodes.
- Au-NWs transformed into nanoparticles under heat only, and into plates under heat and pressure.
- Optimal performance, including highest capacitance and largest displacement, was achieved when hot-pressed at 90 °C.
Conclusions:
- Gold nanowire mesh films are effective, high-performance electrodes for IPMC actuators.
- The rapid hot-pressing fabrication method significantly enhances IPMC actuator efficiency.
- This research broadens the application scope of gold nanowires in electromechanical systems.
