Deformation behaviors of ionic-polymer-metal composite actuator with palladium electrodes for various solvents, temperatures, and frequencies

An ionic-polymermetal composite (IPMC) actuator with palladium electrodes was fabricated by non-electrolytic plating. It is cheaper and lighter than actuators with electrodes made from conventional materials such as gold and platinum. The deformation properties of the IPMC actuator were evaluated and its bending response was found to increase with increasing ionic radius of the cation. The solvent temperature affects the deformation speed, but not the maximum curvature. The IPMC actuator exhibits a good response at frequencies below its resonant frequency. The resonant frequency was reasonably estimated by a cantilever beam model. The generative mechanical power increased with both the effective length and the width of IPMC actuator. To increase the mechanical power, making longer IPMC actuators is more efficient than making wider IPMC actuators.