IPMC is a new type of polymer material that will act violently to the stimulation of electrical signals. IPMC has changed the traditional mechanical driving mode. However, the development of IPMC is limited by factors like manufacture cost. In order to reduce the manufacture cost of IPMC, improve the output displacement and output force of IPMC, and make IPMC closer to real life, in this paper, we use carbon nanotubes to modify the ion exchange membrane of IPMC, and PDDA to modify carbon nanotubes and graphene. A graphite plated electrode and a carbon nanotube electrode were coated on a platinum plated IPMC. The common modified Pt-IPMC, carbon nanotubes modified Pt-IPMC, carbon nanotubes modified GS-IPMC, and carbon nanotubes modified CNT-IPMC were prepared. Through the experiment, it is found that the maximum output displacement of GS-IPMC modified by carbon nanotubes is 4.9 mm, and the maximum output force is 39 mN. The output displacement of ordinary Pt IPMC is 3.18 mm and the maximum output force is 31 mN. The maximum displacement and output force of GS-IPMC modified by CNTs are higher than those of Pt IPMC, which is more suitable for research and application.
With the development of bionics and marine science, a new artificial muscle material, IPMC (ion-exchange polymer metal composite), has attracted significant attention. However, the performance issues, as well as problems associated with the preparation of IPMC, have limited its development. In this study, we use the freeze-drying technique, successfully creating a new type of enhanced carbon nanotube IPMC material. Moreover, we also use the method of cyclic voltammetry, ac impedance, and the constant current charge and discharge method to analyze and evaluate the multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT)-reinforced IPMC produced by freeze-drying technology. Freeze-dried IPMC has a higher moisture content, which is 1.58 times higher than that of ordinary IPMC. The pore and multiwalled carbon nanotube (MWCNT) in the ion exchange membrane are distributed more homogeneously. The technology prepared by IPMC has superior electrical performance. Under a 2 v scanning interval and a scanning speed of 50 mV/s, its specific capacitance can reach 247.5335 mF/cm−2, which is 24 times that of normal IPMC. Under the same conditions, its conductivity can reach 0.29391 mS/cm, far higher than that of ordinary IPMC. Furthermore, the preparation process is also safer. This method provides a new strategy for the future preparation and usage of IPMC.
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