Ionic electroactive PEDOT:PSS/liquid-crystalline polymer electrolyte actuators: photopolymerization of zwitterionic columnar liquid crystals complexed with a protic ionic liquid

Abstract

Electro-responsive polymer actuators that generate large deformation and force are potentially important components in soft robotics. Here, we report on the development of novel nanostructured ionic electroactive polymer actuators based on photopolymerizable zwitterionic columnar liquid crystals complexed with a protic ionic liquid. In situ UV polymerization of room-temperature columnar liquid crystals produced free-standing polymer films forming one-dimensional ion channels. These electrolytes were sandwiched between a pair of conductive polymer electrodes. The trilayer actuators exhibited a bending strain of 0.86% under AC 2 V at 0.01 Hz and generated a force of 4.68 mN under DC 2 V at ambient conditions. The thickness of the nanostructured electrolytes and the content of ionic liquid greatly affected the bending deformation and force generation of the actuators.