Cédric Plesse

Graphitic carbon nitride nanosheet electrode-based high-performance ionic actuator

Ionic actuators have attracted attention due to their remarkably large strain under low-voltage stimulation. Because actuation performance is mainly dominated by the electrochemical and electromechanical processes of the electrode layer, the electrode material and structure are crucial. Here, we report a graphitic carbon nitride nanosheet electrode-based ionic actuator that displays high electrochemical activity and electromechanical conversion abilities, including large specific capacitance (259.4 F g−1) with ionic liquid as the electrolyte, fast actuation response (0.5±0.03% in 300 ms), large electromechanical strain (0.93±0.03%) and high actuation stability (100,000 cycles) under 3 V. The key to the high performance lies in the hierarchical pore structure with dominant size <2 nm, optimal pyridinic nitrogen active sites (6.78%) and effective conductivity (382 S m−1) of the electrode. Our study represents an important step towards artificial muscle technology in which heteroatom modulation in electrodes plays an important role in promoting electrochemical actuation performance.

Robust solid polymer electrolyte for conducting IPN actuators

Interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) based on nitrile butadiene rubber (NBR) as first component and poly(ethylene oxide) (PEO) as second component were synthesized and used as a solid polymer electrolyte film in the design of a mechanically robust conducting IPN actuator. IPN mechanical properties and morphologies were mainly investigated by dynamic mechanical analysis and transmission electron microscopy. For 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium bis-(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)-imide (EMITFSI) swollen IPNs, conductivity values are close to 1 × 10−3 S cm−1 at 25 ° C. Conducting IPN actuators have been synthesized by chemical polymerization of 3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene (EDOT) within the PEO/NBR IPN. A pseudo-trilayer configuration has been obtained with PEO/NBR IPN sandwiched between two interpenetrated PEDOT electrodes. The robust conducting IPN actuators showed a free strain of 2.4% and a blocking force of 30 mN for a low applied potential of ±2 V.

Conducting interpenetrating polymer network sized to fabricate microactuators

Interpenetrating polymer networks can become successful actuators in the field of microsystems providing they are compatible with microtechnologies. In this letter, we report on a material synthesized from poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene) and polytetrahydrofuran/poly(ethylene oxide) and microsized by decreasing its thickness to 12 μm and patterning the lateral side using plasma etching at high etch rates and with vertical sidewalls. A chemical process and a “self degradation” are proposed to explain such etching rates. Preliminary actuation results show that microbeams can move with very large displacements. These microsized actuators are potential candidates in numerous applications, including microswitches, microvalves, microoptical instrumentation, and microrobotics.

In search of better electroactive polymer actuator materials: PPy versus PEDOT versus PEDOT–PPy composites

A comparative study of metal-free air-operated polypyrrole and PEDOT based trilayer actuators is presented. Actuators made of both pure and combined conducting polymers are considered. Trilayer bending actuators, synthesized in similar conditions, are characterized in terms of the structure, electrochemical and electro-chemo-mechanical properties. The characterization was carried out using two popular electrolytes: LiTFSI in propylene carbonate and a room-temperature ionic liquid EMIm TFSI. The results reveal that structure and actuation properties of the synthesized actuators depend on both the polymer chosen for the chemically synthesized electrode layer as well as the electrochemically synthesized working layer.

Ionic electroactive polymer artificial muscles in space applications

A large-scale effort was carried out to test the performance of seven types of ionic electroactive polymer (IEAP) actuators in space-hazardous environmental factors in laboratory conditions. The results substantiate that the IEAP materials are tolerant to long-term freezing and vacuum environments as well as ionizing Gamma-, X-ray, and UV radiation at the levels corresponding to low Earth orbit (LEO) conditions. The main aim of this material behaviour investigation is to understand and predict device service time for prolonged exposure to space environment.

Smarter Actuator Design with Complementary and Synergetic Functions

A general synthetic strategy for multifunctional actuators is presented, by confining desired functions in separate domains of interpenetrating polymer network materials. Specifically, complementary ionic actuator and shape-memory functions are demonstrated by simultaneous, orthogonal reaction pathways. Synergistic effects also allow dynamic programming and two-way linear shape-memory actuation.

Top-down Approach for the Direct Synthesis, Patterning, and Operation of Artificial Micromuscles on Flexible Substrates

Recent progress in the field of microsystems on flexible substrates raises the need for alternatives to the stiffness of classical actuation technologies. This paper reports a top-down process to microfabricate soft conducting polymer actuators on substrates on which they ultimately operate. The bending microactuators were fabricated by sequentially stacking layers using a layer polymerization by layer polymerization of conducting polymer electrodes and a solid polymer electrolyte. Standalone microbeams thinner than 10 μm were fabricated on SU-8 substrates associated with a bottom gold electrical contact. The operation of microactuators was demonstrated in air and at low voltage (±4 V).

Synthesis and Characterization of IPNs for Electrochemical Actuators

Interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) have been developed for many years leading to materials with controlled properties. When an electronic conducting polymer (ECP) is incorporated into an IPN, this one becomes a conducting IPN (CIPN). The synthetic pathway ensures a non homogeneous dispersion of the ECP through the IPN thickness of the material. The system is thus similar to a layered one with the advantage that the intimate combination of the three polymers needs no adhesive interface. The last step in making the CIPN into an actuator is to ensure the ionic conductivity by incorporation of an ionic salt. The highest ionic conductivity through the IPN matrix is necessary in order to ensure the best actuation. The chosen salt is an ionic liquid, i.e. 1-ethyl-3- methylimidazolium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide (EMImTFSI). Based on IPN architectures electrochemical actuators have been designed and actuation in open air has been characterized.

Long-Life Air Working Semi-IPN/Ionic Liquid: New Precursor of Artificial Muscles

ABSTRACT Interpenetrating polymer networks (IPNs) containing an electronic conducting polymer (ECP) dispersed gradually into networks of two cross-linked polymers ensuring both ionic conductivity in a presence of a salt and mechanical properties perform interesting electrically stimulation. First, we will describe how is elaborated such an actuator and what is the influence of the ECP contents on the properties of the system. Then, we will show that if the salt incorporated in the IPN is a room temperature ionic liquid, this actuator can move for a very long time in air without significant decrease of its characteristics.

Actuation and Sensing properties of Electroactive Polymer Whiskers

Abstract In a world of unknown, touch modality is a key avenue for environments exploration. Implementation of such modality in mobile robot has been a major challenge for many research teams. Recently, several artificial whisker systems have been studied as promising tactile sensor. One key to the whiskers functionality is its sensor system. Our laboratory recently synthesized new electroactive polymer (EAP) actuator/sensor based on interpenetrated polymer networks (IPN) as host matrix and electrically conducting polymer. The first results of such actuator/sensor devices and their integration in a whisker prototype will be presented.