Polyaniline actuators

Drawn polyaniline films and fibers doped with 2-acrylamido-2-methyl-propane-1-sulfonic acid, PANI(AMPS), were electrochemically cycled in HCl and their material properties and actuation performance comprehensively characterized. The Young's modulus was obtained as a function of applied voltage. Actuator figures of merit were derived from isotonic and isometric measurements, including strain, stress, work, power, creep, and efficiency. The effects of sample length, solution pH, electrochemical driving method, frequency, and load were studied, as well as the response of current to applied load for sensing applications. This work presents a complete picture of a polyaniline actuator for the first time. The behavior of the actuator is discussed in terms of the changes in the oxidation and protonation states of polyaniline.