Experimental study on IPMC with Pt as electrodes modified by multi-walled carbon nanotubes

A kind of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs)/perfluorosulfonate resin (Nafion) ionic exchange membrane(IEM) was prepared with Nafion solution and MWCNTs by mass ratios of 100:1, 100:3 and 100:5 using solvent evaporation method and ultrasonic dispersion method. Based on the IEMs, Ionic exchange polymer metal composites with Pt as electrodes (Pt-IPMC) were manufactured by chemical deposit method. The influence of MWCNTs contents on IEM and Pt-IPMC performance was investigated. The effect of Pt deposit was measured with SEM and EDAX, mechanical properties of IEM and Pt-IPMC samples were studied by tension testing, and Pt-IPMC dynamic deformation was observed under different excitation signals. The experimental results reveal that, owing to the MWCNTs, thicknesses of inter-locked electrodes and surface electrodes are respectively increased by 200%~250% and 180%~200%, elastic moduli of IEM and Pt-IPMC are respectively increased by 57.92%~140.85% and 9.06%~52.85%, inter-locked electrodes of Pt-IPMC are effectively modified. The samples’ dynamic displacement, response and deforming velocity are enhanced.