Influence of conductive network composite structure on the electromechanical performance of ionic electroactive polymer actuators

The influence of the nanostructure of the conductive network composite(CNC)on the performance of ionic electroactive polymer(IEAP)actuators has been examined in detail.We have studied IEAP actuators consisting of CNCs with different volume densities of gold nanoparticles(AuNPs)and the polymer network.Varying the concentration of AuNPs in CNC thin films was used as a means to control the CNC-ion interfacial area and the electrical resistance of the CNC,with minimum effect on the mechanical properties of the actuator.Increasing the interfacial area and reducing the resistance,while maintaining porosity of the composite,provide means for generating motion of more ions into the CNC at a significantly shorter time,which results in generation of strain at a faster rate.We have demonstrated that cationic strain in actuators with denser CNCs is improved by more than 460%.Denser CNC structures have larger interfacial areas,which results in attraction/repulsion of more ions in a shorter time,thus generation of a larger mechanical strain at a faster rate.Also,time-dependent response to a square-wave voltage was improved by increasing the AuNP concentration in the CNC.Under 0.1 Hz frequency,the cationic strain was increased by 64%when the AuNP concentration was increased from 4 to 20 ppm.

Printed unmanned aerial vehicles using paper-based electroactive polymer actuators and organic ion gel transistors

We combined lightweight and mechanically flexible printed transistors and actuators with a paper unmanned aerial vehicle(UAV)glider prototype to demonstrate electrically controlled glide path modification in a lightweight,disposable UAV system.The integration of lightweight and mechanically flexible electronics that is offered by printed electronics is uniquely attractive in this regard because it enables flight control in an inexpensive,disposable,and easily integrated system.Here,we demonstrate electroactive polymer(EAP)actuators that are directly printed into paper that act as steering elements for low cost,lightweight paper UAVs.We drive these actuators by using ion gel-gated organic thin film transistors(OTFTs)that are ideally suited as drive transistors for these actuators in terms of drive current and frequency requirements.By using a printing-based fabrication process on a paper glider,we are able to deliver an attractive path to the realization of inexpensive UAVs for ubiquitous sensing and monitoring flight applications.