Enhanced and fast actuation of fullerenol/PVDF/PVP/PSSA based ionic polymer metal composite actuators

For a small underwater swimming robot and the tip part of an active guide wire, ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) should be able to provide large and fast actuation at low direct current (DC) and alternating current (AC) voltages. In this paper, we report the enhanced and fast actuation of the fullerenol (Ful)/polyvinylidene fluoride (PVDF)/polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP)/polystyrene sulfonic acid (PSSA) composite membrane based IPMC actuator, at low DC and AC voltages of 0.5–1.5 V, in comparison to the PVDF/PVP/PSSA based IPMC actuator. The water-uptake (WUP), proton conductivity, Youngʹs modulus and tensile strain of the Ful/PVDF/PVP/PSSA composite membrane were found to be higher, beyond than that of the PVDF/PVP/PSSA membrane. Ful particles interacted with PVDF/PVP/PSSA ionic membrane, via hydrogen bonding of Ful with PVP and PSSA. Ful particles support the acid–base mechanism in Ful/PVDF/PVP/PSSA composite membranes, to improve proton conductivity. The highest actuation was observed for Ful/PVDF/PVP/PSSA based IPMC actuator with 0.3 wt% of Ful particles, due to its highest capacitance and highest electric current, among all the IPMC actuators.