Fast response of actuators with self assembly nanoparticle electrodes and ionic liquids

In ionomeric polymers, the accumulation or depletion of excess charges (ions) at the electrodes under an applied voltage will generate strain in these regions. This can be made use of for electromechanical transduction devices such as actuators and sensors. The paper investigates a new type of CNC for IPCNC actuators, in which the CNC is fabricated by a self-assembled layer-by-layer (LBL) nanocomposites. The thinness of the CNC electrode layer (~ 0.4 μm) and large strain (~ 7%) of this type of IPCNC actuator result in a high bending actuation speed (~ 0.1 s) with high bending actuation.