Soft Actuator Using Ionic Polymer–Metal Composite Composed of Gold Electrodes Deposited Using Vacuum Evaporation

Author

Okazaki, Hiroshi ; Sawada, Shigeki ; Kimura, Mutsumi ; Tanaka, Hideki ; Matsumoto, Tetsurou ; Ohtake, Toshihiro ; Inoue, Satoshi

Author_Institution

Dept. of Electron. & Inf., Ryukoku Univ., Otsu, Japan

Volume

33

Issue

7

fYear

2012

fDate

7/1/2012 12:00:00 AM

Firstpage

1087

Lastpage

1089

Abstract

We have developed a soft actuator using an ionic polymer-metal composite (IPMC) composed of gold electrodes deposited using vacuum evaporation. In comparison with the conventional plating deposition, the vacuum evaporation both is a simple fabrication process and is environmentally friendly. We observe how the gold electrodes adhere to the ionic polymer using a cross-sectional scanning electron microscope and confirm the working as a soft actuator by applying voltage. Although the displacement characteristic is not comparable to that of the conventional IPMC, this work is worthwhile because many researchers become able to easily enter into the research field of soft actuators.

Keywords

electroactive polymer actuators; electrodes; gold; vacuum deposition; Au; IPMC; cross-sectional scanning electron microscope; displacement characteristic; fabrication process; gold electrodes; ionic polymer-metal composite; plating deposition; soft actuator; vacuum evaporation deposition; Actuators; Educational institutions; Electrodes; Fabrication; Gold; Polymers; Gold electrode; ionic polymer–metal composite (IPMC); soft actuator; vacuum evaporation;

fLanguage

English

Journal_Title

Electron Device Letters, IEEE

Publisher

ieee

ISSN

0741-3106

Type

jour

DOI

10.1109/LED.2012.2196970

Filename

6213487