Solid polymer electrolyte actuator using electrode reaction

A solid polymer electrolyte membrane, Nafion, plated with noble metal is known for the fast bending upon electric field. Since this composite contains water, the applied voltage should be small enough such as 1 V in order to avoid water electrolysis, although its larger deflection demands the higher applied voltage. Nafion with copper–platinum electrodes on its surfaces exhibited larger deflection than that with the pure platinum electrodes upon 1 V. This larger deflection is owing to the electrode reaction of copper that provides larger flux of mobile Cu2+.