Issue 5, 2011

Exceptional versatility of solvated block copolymer/ionomer networks as electroactive polymers

Abstract

Responsive materials possess properties that change abruptly when exposed to an external stimulus, and electroactive polymers constitute examples of robust, lightweight materials that change shape upon electrical actuation. We demonstrate that solvated block copolymer networks afford tremendous versatility in designing electronic and ionic electroactive polymers. As dielectric elastomers, styrenic block copolymer systems attain extraordinary actuation strains approaching 300%, along with high electromechanical coupling efficiencies. Changing the solvent improves the blocking stress and yields remarkably high energy densities, while providing a unique opportunity for mechanical impedance matching and control of shape recovery kinetics, as well as mode of deformation. Dielectric elastomers composed of acrylic copolymers actuate beyond 100% in-plane strain without any prestrain, whereas block ionomer networks swollen with ionic solutions yield ionic polymer–metal composites, which actuate by bending. Selective solvation of block copolymer networks represents an effective and largely unexplored means by which to tune the function and properties of electroactive polymers through systematic manipulation of copolymer and solvent attributes.

Graphical abstract: Exceptional versatility of solvated block copolymer/ionomer networks as electroactive polymers

Article information

Article type
Communication
Submitted
26 Oct 2010
Accepted
16 Dec 2010
First published
18 Jan 2011

Soft Matter, 2011,7, 1651-1655

Exceptional versatility of solvated block copolymer/ionomer networks as electroactive polymers

P. H. Vargantwar, R. Shankar, A. S. Krishnan, T. K. Ghosh and R. J. Spontak, Soft Matter, 2011, 7, 1651 DOI: 10.1039/C0SM01210F

To request permission to reproduce material from this article, please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

If you are an author contributing to an RSC publication, you do not need to request permission provided correct acknowledgement is given.

If you are the author of this article, you do not need to request permission to reproduce figures and diagrams provided correct acknowledgement is given. If you want to reproduce the whole article in a third-party publication (excluding your thesis/dissertation for which permission is not required) please go to the Copyright Clearance Center request page.

Read more about how to correctly acknowledge RSC content.

Social activity

Spotlight

Advertisements