Electroactive polymer actuators ionic actuation strain

Oh IK, Jung JH, Jeon JH et al (2010) Electro-chemo-mechanical characteristics of fidlerene-reinforced ionic polymer-metal composite transducers. Smart Mater Stmct 19(7) 075009 Palmre V, Brandell D, Maeorg U et al (2009) Nanoporous carbon-based electrodes for high strain ionomeric bending actuators. Smart Mater Stmct 18(9) 095028 Palmre V, Lust E, Janes A et al (2011) Electroactive polymer actuators with carbon aerogel electrodes. J Mater 21 2577-2583... 

Active catheterization will pave the way for minimally invasive medical diagnosis and treatments that involve less risk and pain for patients and less complication for doctors. Electroactive polymer (EAP) actuators are good candidates for use in active catheters due to their biocompatibility, low cost, large strain, low actuation voltage and ease of fabrication. However, electrochemical actuation of these devices involves using ionic electrolytes which require either encapsulation or perhaps direct use of internal fluids. 

Ferroelectric polymer materials like PVDF or its derivatives are mentioned, since they behave as ferroelectric materials (see Fig. 2.2) - They have crystallinity and the crystals show polymorphism by controlling the preparation method. Much detailed work has been carried out on piezoelectric and/or pyroelectric properties, together with their characteristics as electroactive actuators. These materials have long been mentioned as typical electroactive polymers. Through these materials, it is considered that the strain induced in the polymer materials is not large. The electrostrictive coefficient is known to be small for polymers. These are non-ionic polymers and the induced strain originates from the reorientation or the deformation of polarized crystallites in the solid materials. 

Akle BJ, Leo DJ (2008) Single-walled earbon nanotubes ionic polymer electroactive hybrid transducers. J Intell Mater Syst Struct 19 905-915 Akle BJ, Bennett MD, Leo DJ (2006) High-strain ionomeric-ionic hquid electroactive actuators. 

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