Ionic polymer metal composites (IPMC) are soft polymeric smart materials having large displacement at low voltage in
moist environments or water. This type of actuators consists of an ionic membrane and noble metal electrodes plated on
both surfaces. The ion-exchange membrane, Nafion, remains as the benchmark for a majority of research and
development in IPMC technology. In this research, we employed sulfonated poly(styrene-ran-ethylene) (SPSE) that is
crosslinked by UV irradiation as a novel ionic membrane. The crosslinking reaction between polymer matrix and
crosslinking agent was proved by FTIR analysis. The sulfonic acid groups were stable during the UV irradiation
crosslinking process. Water uptake, ion exchange capacity, and sulfonation degree are characterized for both pure SPSE
and crosslinked SPSE membrane. The bending responses of SPSE actuators under both direct current (DC) and
alternating current (AC) excitations were investigated. The voltage-current behaviors of the actuators under AC
excitations are also measured. Results showed the crosslinked SPSE actuators have better electromechanical
performance than that of pure SPSE actuator with regard to tip displacement.
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