Ionic Polymer–Metal Nanocomposites: Manufacturing Techniques - Artificial Muscles - page 86

2.0

ERI-S1 IPMC

1.5

1.0

0.5

0.0

Na + Li + K + H + Ca ++ Mg ++ Ba ++ TBA TMA

Counter ion

FIGURE 3.23 The specific force generated per an applied input power by the ERI-S1 IPMNC.

1.8

1.6

1.4

2 min

1.2

1.0

0.8

0.6

0.4

0.2

0.0

− 0.2

− 0.4

0 1 2 3 4 5

Time (min)

FIGURE 3.24 Force generated by an IPMNC with respect to time in minutes. The measured
force under a step voltage of 1.2 V clearly shows nearly no decay in the force generated over a
period of 2 min. The dimension of the IPMNC sample is 0.25 × 0.75 in. In this case, the surface
electrode is effectively made to block water leakage (organic ions were incorporated as well).

The observed magnitude of the specific force generated is still in the same
range as Li + >> Na + > (K + , Ca ++ , Mg ++ , Ba ++ , H + , TBA, and TMA). In other words,
the efficiency of the IPMNC with Li + is at least 40% higher than those of the other
types of cations.
In figures 3.24 and 3.25, relevant data are provided for force characteristics of
the IPMNC and the dynamic force behavior under a constant voltage (Nafion-117
based IPMNC), respectively. Figure 3.24 reports the measured force under a step
voltage of 1.2 V clearly showing nearly no decay in the force generated over a period