Longfei Chang

Manufacturing process and electrode properties of palladium-electroded ionic polymer-metal composite

This paper primarily focuses on the manufacturing process of palladium-electroded ionic polymer‐metal composite (IPMC). First, according to the special properties of Pd, many experiments were done to determine several specific procedures, including the addition of a reducing agent and the time consumed. Subsequently, the effects of the core manufacturing steps on the electrode morphology were revealed by scanning electron microscopy studies of 22 IPMC samples treated with different combinations of manufacturing steps. Finally, the effects of electrode characteristics on the electromechanical properties, including the sheet resistivity, the elastic modulus and the electro-active performance, of IPMCs were evaluated experimentally and analyzed according to the electrode morphology. (Some figures may appear in colour only in the online journal)

Multiphysics of ionic polymer–metal composite actuator

Water-based ionic polymer–metal composites (IPMCs) exhibit complex deformation properties, especially with decreasing water content. Based on our experimental understanding, we developed a systemic actuation mechanism for IPMCs in which the water swelling was taken as the basic cause of deformation. We focused on Nafion-IPMC, and formulated a multiphysical model to describe the complicated deformation properties. The model emphasizes pressure-induced convection fluxes and the significance of the water distribution on deformation. It shows that there are three eigen stresses activated by the migration of ions and water, namely, osmotic pressure, electrostatic stress, and capillary pressure. The model also provides a convenient way of simultaneously handling the internal eigen stresses and the external mechanical load. In this paper, we used a fundamental model, which only considered the hydrostatic pressure in the multiphysical model, to analyze the general transport properties of cations and water by nume...

Comparative experimental investigation on the actuation mechanisms of ionic polymer–metal composites with different backbones and water contents

Water-based ionic polymer–metal composites (IPMCs) exhibit complex deformation properties, especially when the water content changes. To explore the general actuation mechanisms, both Nafion and Flemion membranes are used as the polymer backbones. IPMC deformation includes three stages: fast anode deformation, relaxation deformation, and slow anode deformation, which is mainly dependent on the water content and the backbone. When the water content decreases from 21 to 14 wt. %, Nafion–IPMC exhibits a large negative relaxation deformation, zero deformation, a positive relaxation deformation, and a positive steady deformation without relaxation in sequence. Despite the slow anode deformation, Flemion–IPMC also shows a slight relaxation deformation, which disappears when the water content is less than 13 wt. %. The different water states are investigated at different water contents using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy. The free water, which decreases rapidly at the beginning through evaporation, is ...

Water content criterion for relaxation deformation of Nafion based ionic polymer metal composites doped with alkali cations

Water-based ionic polymer–metal composites (IPMCs) exhibit an anode deformation followed by a back-relaxation deformation under a direct current voltage. The latter is strongly related to the water content. This Letter proposes an evaluation method of the critical water content for relaxation deformation. Based on Nafion-IPMC doped with various alkali cations, continuous deformations are measured under a periodic pulse voltage in air. A transformation of the relaxation deformation is found to exist between two successive pulses. The critical water content is confined between the two pulses and evaluated gravimetrically. Removal of no more than 4 wt. % water or 1.4–2 water molecules per cation from the saturated material can completely eliminate the large relaxation deformation in Nafion-IPMC doped with alkali cations.

Dynamic model of ion and water transport in ionic polymer-metal composites

In the process of electro-mechanical transduction of ionic polymer-metal composites (IPMCs), the transport of ion and water molecule plays an important role. In this paper, the theoretical transport models of IPMCs are critically reviewed, with particular emphasis on the recent developments in the latest decade. The models can be divided into three classes, thermodynamics of irreversible process model, frictional model and Nernst-Planck (NP) equation model. To some extent the three models can be transformed into each other, but their differences are also obvious arising from the various mechanisms that considered in different models. The transport of ion and water molecule in IPMCs is compared with that in membrane electrode assembly and electrodialysis membrane to identify and clarify the fundamental transport mechanisms in IPMCs. And an improved transport model is proposed and simplified for numerical analysis. The model considers the convection effect rather than the diffusion as the major transport me...

Physical interpretation of deformation evolvement with water content of ionic polymer- metal composite actuator

Water-based Nafion ionic polymer metal composites (IPMC) exhibit complex deformation properties. In this paper, three eigen stresses, osmotic pressure, total electrostatic stress, and capillary pressure, are investigated with water concentration at various cation concentration levels and compared with the reference hydrostatic pressure, in order to give a physical interpretation on the deformation evolvement with water content. By numerical analysis it is found that under various saturation conditions, the steady-state of the relaxation deformation is dominated by the magnitudes of the osmotic pressure and the total electrostatic stress. When the former is less than the later, IPMC actuator will show a positive steady-state deformation such as the case of Pd-IPMC (water content 20 w.t.%), and vice versa for the case of Au-IPMC (water content 18 w.t.%). With the water content initially decreasing (no more than 4 w.t.%), the relaxation deformation decreases. It is due to the increase of the osmotic pressure...

Influence of Ambient Humidity on the Voltage Response of Ionic Polymer-Metal Composite Sensor.

Electrical potential based on ion migration exists not only in natural systems but also in ionic polymer materials. In order to investigate the influence of ambient humidity on voltage response, classical Au-Nafion IPMC was chosen as the reference sample. Voltage response under a bending deformation was measured in two ways: first, continuous measurement of voltage response in the process of absorption and desorption of water to study the tendency of voltage variation at all water states; second, measurements at multiple fixed ambient humidity levels to characterize the process of voltage response quantitatively. Ambient humidity influences the voltage response mainly by varying water content in ionic polymer. Under a step bending, the amplitude of initial voltage peak first increases and then decreases as the ambient humidity and the inherent water content decrease. This tendency is explained semiquantitatively by mass storage capacity related to the stretchable state of the Nafion polymer network. Following the initial peak, the voltage shows a slow decay to a steady state, which is first characterized in this paper. The relative voltage decay during the steady state always decreases as the ambient humidity is lowered. It is ascribed to progressive increase of the ratio between the water molecules in the cation hydration shell to the free water. Under sinusoidal mechanical bending excitation in the range of 0.1-10 Hz, the voltage magnitude increases with frequency at high ambient humidity but decreases with frequency at low ambient humidity. The relationship is mainly controlled by the voltage decay effect and the response speed.

NMR study on mechanisms of ionic polymer-metal composites deformation with water content

Ionic polymer-metal composites (IPMCs) exhibit a large dynamic bending deformation under exterior electric field. The states and proportions of water within the IPMCs have great effect on the IPMCs deformation properties. This letter investigates the influence of the proportion changes of different types of water on the deformation, which may disclose the working mechanisms of the IPMCs. We give a deformation trend of IPMCs with the reduction of water content firstly. Then by the method of nuclear magnetic resonance, various water types (water bonded to sulfonates, loosely bound water and free water) of IPMCs and their proportions are investigated in the drying process which corresponds to their different deformation states. It is obtained that the deformation properties of IPMCs depend strongly on their water content and the excess free water is responsible for the relaxation deformation.

Effects of surface roughening on the mass transport and mechanical properties of ionic polymer-metal composite

Ionic Polymer-Metal Composite (IPMC) has been well-documented of being a promising functional material in extensive applications. In its most popular and traditional manufacturing technique, roughening is a key process to ensure a satisfying performance. In this paper, based on a lately established multi-physical model, the effect of roughening process on the inner mass transportation and the electro-active output of IPMC were investigated. In the model, the electro-chemical field was monitored by Poisson equation and a properly simplified Nernst-Planck equation set, while the mechanical field was evaluated on the basis of volume strain effect. Furthermore, with Ramo-Shockley theorem, the out-circuit current and accumulated charge on the electrode were bridged with the inner cation distribution. Besides, nominal current and charge density as well as the curvature of the deformation were evaluated to characterize the performance of IPMC. The simulation was implemented by Finite Element Method with Comsol Multi-physics, based on two groups of geometrical models, those with various rough interface and those with different thickness. The results of how the roughening impact influences on the performance of IPMC were discussed progressively in three aspects, steady-state distribution of local potential and mass concentration, current response and charge accumulation, as well as the curvature of deformation. Detailed explanations for the performance improvement resulted from surface roughening were provided from the micro-distribution point of view, which can be further explored for the process optimization of IPMC

Preparation and characterization of water-soluble carbon nanotube reinforced Nafion membranes and so-based ionic polymer metal composite actuators

In this paper, we developed a new kind of ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) actuator by doping water-soluble sulfonated multi-walled carbon nanotube (sMWCNT) into Nafion matrix to overcome some major drawbacks of traditional IPMCs, such as relatively low bending deformation and carring capacity at low driving voltages. Firstly, sMWCNT was synthesized via diazotization coupling reaction, and then doped into Nafion matrix by casting method. Subsequently, the electrochemical and electromechanical properties of sMWCNT-reinforced Nafion membranes and the corresponding IPMCs were investigated. Finally, the effects of sMWCNT on the performances of IPMCs were evaluated and analyzed systematacially. The results showed that sMWCNT was homogeneously dispersed in Nafion matrix without any entangled structure or obvious agglomeration. The main factors for superior actuation performances, like water-uptake ratio, proton conductivity and elastic modulus, increased significantly. Compared to the pure Nafion IPMC and MWCNT/Nafion IPMC, much superior electrochemical and electromechanical performances were achieved in the sMWCNT/Nafion IPMC, which were attributed to the numerous insertion sites, high surface conductivity and excellent mechanical strength as well as the homogeneous dispersity of the incorporated sMWCNT. Herein, a trace amount of sMWCNT can improve the performances of IPMCs significantly for realistic applications.