Property of ionic polymer metal composite with different thicknesses based on solution casting technique

As an ionic electroactive polymer, ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) has unique advantages and is widely used in various fields. However, the output force of IPMC is small, which further limits the application of IPMC. In this study, the Nafion520cs were selected as the preparation solution, and three ion-exchange polymer membranes (IEPMs) with different thicknesses (158, 256 and 383 mu m) were designed and prepared successfully by solution casting technique to study the output force. Then, three platinum electrodes-IPMCs (Pt-IPMCs) were fabricated using electroless plating method. The properties of Pt-IPMCs in terms of morphology, displacements and blocking forces were then evaluated under direct current voltage. The results showed that the prepared ionic membranes were uniform, transparent and flat, without accumulation or bubble. The platinum particles were preferably deposited on the surface, which promoted delivery of current through the IPMCs under the applied voltage, and improved the actuation performance. With the increase of voltage, the maximum displacement and maximum blocking force of the three IPMCs increased first and then decreased. When the voltage is 5.5 V, the maximum displacement for 158 um is 26 mm, while the maximum blocking force of 10.74 mN appears at 6.5 V for 383 um. It is necessary to select suitable thickness of IPMCs to adapt to different working environment and field, which provides a strong basis for further application of IPMCs.