Article ID Journal Published Year Pages File Type
743261 Sensors and Actuators B: Chemical 2009 7 Pages PDF
Abstract

We report on the chemical actuation of a polypyrrole (PPy) artificial muscle by redox agents in solution without external power supply, such as a battery, connected to the actuator. In particular, hexacyanoferrate and L-ascorbic acid are employed to analyse the strain responses of PPy. The redox agents establish a certain potential at the polymer electrode, which results in a corresponding strain change. The results are in accordance with the strain generated by an external voltage via a potentiostat. We use a bending beam of polyimide/gold/PPy to observe the strain of PPy inside a liquid flow cell. By adding different relative concentrations of the hexacyanoferrate couple to the electrolyte, we achieve a repeatable linear transition in strain without significant hysteresis. Strain changes are induced by redox pairs as well as redox moieties in solution.

Related Topics
Physical Sciences and Engineering Chemistry Analytical Chemistry
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