jp9b00868_si_001.avi (2.9 MB)
Ionic Liquid Cation Size-Dependent Electromechanical Response of Ionic Liquid/Poly(vinylidene fluoride)-Based Soft Actuators
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posted on 2019-03-28, 00:00 authored by D. M. Correia, J. C. Barbosa, C. M. Costa, P. M. Reis, J. M. S. S. Esperança, V. de Zea Bermudez, S. Lanceros-MéndezThis
work reports on the development of ionic liquid (IL)/poly(vinylidene
fluoride) (PVDF) actuator composites. ILs sharing the same anion (bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)imide,
[TFSI]−), and different cations belonging to the
families of pyridinium, imidazolium, and ammonium ions, comprising
an alkyl side chains with variable length, were used. The physical–chemical
properties, thermal behavior, mechanical, electrical, and bending
responses of the PVDF/IL composites were evaluated. The incorporation
of ILs into the PVDF matrix leads to an increase of the electroactive
β phase content. Moreover, the β phase content increases
with the increase of the IL alkyl chain length. The degree of crystallinity
depends on the IL chain length as well as on the mechanical properties,
revealing the plasticizing behavior exerted by the IL. The electrical
conductivity decreased with the increase of the cation alkyl chain
size. The highest bending response was observed for the [Pmim][TFSI]/PVDF
and [Pmpip][TFSI] composites (where Pmim and Pmpip represent propylimidazolium
and propylmethylpiperidinium), being 5.7 and 6.0 mm, respectively,
at 5 V and 100 mHz.