Electro-actuators of sulfonated graphene hybrid ion-exchange polymer

Sulfonated graphene mono-molecular film was synthesized and doped into perfluorosulfonic acid solution to prepare around 200 μm thick hybrid membranes with varying mass ratios. Those processes were monitored and demonstrated by attenuated total reflectance Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The physical performances related to electromechanical properties were detected. To make ion exchange polymer-metal composites, two Pt nano sheets were sandwiched on both sides of the resultant membranes, which was observed by SEM. Inputted the sinusoidal wave with a low frequency for fabricating electro-active actuator, detections of force and displacement sensors were taken. The results show that the flexibilities, ionic exchange capacities, and water contents of hybrid membranes increase in a degree. The Pt nano particles are relatively fine and uniform, the electrodes planes are relatively flat, and the bonding between electrode and hybrid membrane is firm. The hybrid membrane has a high electrostrictive strain, and the maximum displacement is 2.38 times higher than that of the pure perfluorosulfonic acid membrane under same conditions.