Performance of ionic polymer-metal composite (IPMC) with different surface roughening methods

Abstract

Based on permeation and double chemical reduction technology, this paper researches the manufacture of Pt-ionic polymer metal composites (IPMC) and the effect of three types of surface roughening methods on the manufacture and performance of IPMC. The roughening methods include manual polishing, sanding machine polishing, and plasma surface treatment. The appearance and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) features, electro-active deformation and surface resistance characteristics of these IPMC specimens were obtained and compared through specimen tests. The results of the tests indicate that surface roughening technology obviously influences the performance of IPMC. The uniformity and compactness of the metal deposited on the surface and inside the Nafion film are improved by improving surface roughening uniformity. However, the electro-active deformation capability and surface resistance of the specimens decrease at the same time. There is an approximate linear increase relationship between the driving voltage and the bending deformation of the IPMC specimen within a certain voltage range. Under the same specimen dimension, constraints, and driving voltage (3V), the maximum electro-active bending deformation angles of the specimens are about 60°, 45°, and 15° for manual polishing, sanding machine roughening, and plasma treatment, respectively.

Keywords

ionic polymer metal composites (IPMC) / surface roughening / scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyze / actuator / electroless plating