Styrenic block copolymer/sulfonated graphene oxide composite membranes for highly bendable ionic polymer actuators with large ion concentration gradient

Jang Woo Lee, Taehoon Kwon, Youngjong Kang, Tae Hee Han, Chang Gi Cho, Soon Man Hong, Suk Won Hwang, Chong Min Koo

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

9 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

In this study, sulfonated graphene oxide (sGO) with a large enhanced sulfonation degree of 1.65 mmol g−1 was simultaneously introduced as a highly ion conduction-activating carbonaceous filler for ionic polymer–metal composite (IPMC) actuator. The nanostructured styrenic block copolymer/sGO/ionic liquid (IL) composite membrane actuators revealed much larger actuation performance than top-ranked polyelectrolyte/IL actuators ever reported so far in terms of bending strain (0.88% under 2 V dc), initial strain rate (0.312% min−1), and charge-specific displacement (276.4 mm C−1). Moreover, SSPB/sGO/IL actuators exhibited excellent actuation performance without drawbacks of conventional IPMCs, such as back-relaxation and early loss of inner solvent. In addition, via tracking the movement of the IL's anion through energy-dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS) analysis, not only the transporting behaviour of IL but also the pumping effect with solvated ion complexes inside the actuator are confirmed for the first time.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)63-70
Number of pages8
JournalComposites Science and Technology
Volume163
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2018 Jul 28

Keywords

  • Actuator
  • Functional composites
  • Graphene oxide (GO)
  • Nanocomposites
  • Sulfonated styrenic pentablock copolymer (SSPB)

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Ceramics and Composites
  • Engineering(all)

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