Conducting polymers, such as PEDOT and Polypyrrole (PPy), feature a combination of properties such as bio-compatibility, low density, low operating voltage, high work density, and scalability, which makes them promising for use in medical, tactile feedback and other applications. Read also about our Steerable Catheter project using conducting polymer actuators.
In particular, the combination of low voltage (< 2V) and large strain (> 1%) distinguishes these actuators from piezoelectrics and electrostatic actuators. With the aim of paving the way to employ fast conducting polymer actuators in real applications, we developed a new fabrication process for these electro-chemical devices, demonstrated an effective process for their encapsulation, and created a web-based graphical user-interface tool to facilitate their modeling and design optimization for different applications.
1. Fabrication of fast trilayer conducting polymer actuators:
A new, easily reproducible, and scalable fabrication process has been developed in Dr. Madden’s lab through which conducting polymer films as thin as 400 nm can be obtained. High electronic and ionic conductivities and strain difference of ~0.65 %, were obtained from these actuators . Using this technique, we showed that 1 cm long trilayers with a steady state peak to peak displacement of ~4.5 mm produce a ~0.5 mm displacement up to 50 Hz.
2. ActuaTool:
A web-based graphical user-interface tool, named ActuaTool, has been created in our group based on a well accepted analytical electro-chemo-mechanical model for trilayer conducting polymer actuators to facilitate their modeling and design optimization for different applications.
Link to ActuaTool: Design Mode, Study Mode
3. Encapsulation:
A reliable and easy encapsulation process has been developed to encapsulate soft trilayer conducting polymer actuators. Using this encapsulation process, we showed that these devices retain 80% of their stored solvent more than 1000 times longer compared to when there is no encapsulation. The shelf life of the encapsulated device, which is around 4 days when there is no encapsulation, is expected to improve by 600 times with encapsulation. Results are published in:
