CHEMOELECTRIC AND ELECTROMECHANICAL ENERGY CONVERSION IN IONIC POLYMER MATERIALS

Sponsor: National Science Foundation

Duration: 3/01-3/06

Page Last Updated: 1/12/02

Develop one-dimensional and multi-dimensional charge transport and water transport models of ionic polymer material systems.

• Discovered an electromechanical coupling coefficient between charge flow and mechanical deformation.
• Developed a one-dimensional macrohomogenous model of ionic polymer material systems.
• Developed new methods of fabricating ionic polymer transducers.
• Discovered an electrically-induced permanent strain effect in ionic polymer actuators.

1. Newbury, K.M., Leo, D.J., 2001, “Mechanical work and electromechanical coupling in ionic polymer bender actuators,” Proceedings of the ASME International Mechanical Engineering Congress and Exposition, paper number AD-23705.
2. Bennett, M.*, Leo, D.J., 2001, “Manufacture of ionic polymer actuators using non-precious metal electrodes,” to appear, International Conference on Adaptive Structures Technology.
3. Newbury, K.M.*, Leo, D.J., 2001, “Chemoelectric and electromechanical coupling in ionic polymer materials,” to appear, Proceedings of the International Conference on Adaptive Structures Technology, October.