Isopropanol Modified Hydrocarbon-Based Polymer: Toward an Environmentally Friendly Large-Deformation Soft Actuator

Area of Science:

• Materials Science
• Polymer Chemistry
• Robotics

Background:

• Ionic polymer-metal composites (IPMCs) are explored as artificial muscles due to their deformability.
• Perfluoro polymer (Nafion) substrates, commonly used in IPMCs, present limitations hindering development.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a novel, environmentally friendly, hydrocarbon-based IPMC as a superior alternative to Nafion-based IPMCs.
• To evaluate the electrochemical and deformation performance of the new hydrocarbon-based IPMC.
• To demonstrate the application of hydrocarbon-based IPMCs in designing ultralow voltage biomimetic flexible grippers.

Main Methods:

• Fabrication of a novel hydrocarbon-based ionic polymer-metal composite (IPMC).
• Electrochemical characterization, including strip resistance and capacitance measurements.
• Deformation performance testing, measuring tip displacement under applied voltage.
• Design and fabrication of multiform ultralow voltage biomimetic flexible grippers using the developed IPMC.

Main Results:

• The hydrocarbon-based IPMC exhibited significantly improved electrochemical characteristics: 46% lower strip resistance and a 13-fold increase in capacitance compared to Nafion-based IPMCs.
• Exceptional deformation performance was achieved, with a tip displacement of 41 mm at 3 V.
• The new material demonstrated merits including being fluorine-free, low cost (1/20 of Nafion), and exhibiting no significant back relaxation.

Conclusions:

• The developed hydrocarbon-based IPMC presents a viable, high-performance, and cost-effective alternative to conventional Nafion-based materials for artificial muscle applications.
• The material's properties overcome inherent drawbacks of perfluorinated substrates, paving the way for broader IPMC development.
• Ultralow voltage biomimetic flexible grippers fabricated from this IPMC show promise for applications in robotics, narrow-space engineering, and miniature gripping devices.