Bending direction change of IPMC by the electrode modification

Both Ag-plated Selemion CMV and AHA bent in the same direction, in the direction of positive electrode. Both dotite-coated Selemion CMV and AHA also bent in the positive electrode direction. Use of Au foils and a paste consisting of Silpot and graphite as electrode materials, which were totally different from Ag-plating and dotite, resulted in the bending of Selemion CMV and AHA in the opposite direction to the direction Ag-plated and dotite-coated Selemion CMV and AHA bent in, in the direction of negative electrode. Electrode material had the decisive influence on the bending direction of Selemion type IPMC. Hence, it is possible to induce the bending of both Selemion CMV and AHA in the desired direction – positive or negative electrode direction – by varying the electrode material. It was observed that single Selemion AHA coated with both dotite and Au foils exhibited the bending so that one end of it bent in the negative electrode direction, while the other end bent in the positive electrode reaction.