IP2C electromechanical actuators and sensors

Ionic polymer-polymer composites (IP
²
C) represent a new class of organic electroactive polymers those can be used to create electromechanical transducers (actuators and sensors). In fact, they represent “development” of ionic polymer-metal composites (IPMC) where metal electrodes are replaced by electrodes with organic conductive polymers based on PEDOT:PSS. It is established that IP
²
C sensors are characterized by a linear response to mechanical excitation in the range of bending deformations of 0.1...1 cm. Under the influence of frequencies of 0.1...20 Hz the amplitude of the output signal is practically unchanged. The sensitivity of IP
²
C sensors soaked with ethylene glycol was higher than the sensitivity of IPMC sensors. As the actuators studied, IP
²
C transducers showed a long response time, which involves using ethylene glycol and ionic liquid as solvents.