Direct assembly process for fabrication of ionomeric polymer devices

a technology of ionomeric polymer and assembly process, which is applied in the direction of mechanical power devices, mechanical equipment, machines/engines, etc., can solve the problems of inability of actuators to operate in air without a means of supply, inability to achieve direct assembly and fundamental limitations of ionomeric polymer transducers. achieve the effect of reducing the number of parts, improving the quality of ionomeric polymer devices

Inactive Publication Date: 2006-11-30
VIRGINIA TECH INTPROP INC
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  • Summary
  • Abstract
  • Description
  • Claims
  • Application Information

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Benefits of technology

[0018] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new fabrication technique for ionomeric transducers, actuators and/or sensors using a more precise, more controllable, and less expensive method. The transducers of the invention exhibit superior transduction performance, including larger strain generation. This

Problems solved by technology

However, these actuators are unable to operate in air without a means of supplying continuous hydration due to drying of the device by evaporation of the water.
However, the authors make no mention of the diluent to be used in the transducers and it is left to the reader to assume that

Method used

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  • Direct assembly process for fabrication of ionomeric polymer devices
  • Direct assembly process for fabrication of ionomeric polymer devices
  • Direct assembly process for fabrication of ionomeric polymer devices

Examples

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example 1

[0083] A Nafion-117 membrane was pretreated by boiling for one hour in 1.0 M sulfuric acid followed by boiling for one hour in deionized water. The membrane was then soaked in 0.5 M LiCl for 24 hours to exchange it into the lithium counterion form. The lithium exchanged membrane was then dried at 150 degrees Centigrade under vacuum for 12 hours. A section of this pretreated membrane was then soaked in neat 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium trifluoromethanesulfonate ionic liquid at 150 degrees Centigrade for 4.5 hours. The uptake of ionic liquid was determined to be 45% of the dry weight of the membrane. Another section of the membrane was soaked in neat formamide at 60 degrees Centigrade for one hour. The uptake of formamide was 100% of the dry weight of the membrane.

[0084] An electrode mixture was prepared containing 36% (by weight) of a commercially available 5% Nafion suspension, 29% isopropyl alcohol, 29% deionized water, and 5% ruthenium (IV) oxide powder (diameter less than 1 micro...

example 2

[0090] Four ionomer actuators were fabricated using the direct assembly process. Nafion-117 membranes were pretreated by boiling for one hour in 1.0 M H2SO4 followed by boiling for one hour in deionized water. The membranes were then soaked in 0.5 M LiCl for 24 hours to exchange it into the lithium counterion form. The lithium exchanged membranes were then dried at 150 degrees Centigrade under vacuum for 12 hours.

[0091] Sections of the pretreated membrane were soaked in ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, and poly(ethylene glycol) (molecular weight 200) at 60 degrees Centigrade for one hour. The diluent-swollen Nafion membranes were painted on both sides with an electrode mixture containing 36% (by weight) of a commercially available 5% Nafion suspension, 29% isopropyl alcohol, 29% deionized water, and 5% ruthenium (IV) oxide powder that had been stirred and sonicated for three hours to disperse the RuO2 particles. The volatile solvents were removed from the ele...

example 3

[0094] Nafion-117 membranes were pretreated by boiling for one hour in 1.0 M H2SO4 followed by boiling for one hour in deionized water. The membranes were then soaked in 0.5 M LiCl for 24 hours to exchange it into the lithium counterion form. The lithium exchanged membranes were then dried at 150 degrees Centigrade under vacuum for 12 hours. The membranes were swollen with triethylene glycol by soaking in neat triethylene glycol at 60 degrees Centigrade for one hour.

[0095] An electrode mixture was prepared containing 36% (by weight) of a commercially available 5% Nafion suspension, 29% isopropyl alcohol, 29% deionized water, and 5% ruthenium (IV) oxide powder (diameter less than 1 micron, surface area 45-65 m2 / g). The mixture was stirred and sonicated for three hours to disperse the RuO2 particles. This mixture was painted directly onto both sides of the diluent-swollen Nafion membranes. The volatile solvents were removed from the electrode mixture by placing the membranes under a ...

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Abstract

Ionomeric polymer sensors, actuators, and transducers and methods for fabricating them are disclosed. One embodiment of the sensors, actuators, and transducers possess a high surface area electrode layer that is applied by hot pressing and a highly conductive surface layer. Another embodiment of these sensors, actuators, and transducers possess a high surface area electrode layer that is penetrated by electronically conductive nanowires. Methods for fabricating these sensors, actuators, and transducers are disclosed. These methods involve the formation of the high surface area layer from a liquid mixture that contains ionomeric polymer, electronically conductive particles, and possibly diluent. This mixture is formed into layers either directly on an ionomeric polymer, on a separate transfer decal, or on an electronically conductive layer. This electronically conductive layer may also include an array of nanowires. These electrode layers are then attached to an ionomeric polymer membrane by hot pressing. The ionomeric polymer membrane may be swollen with a diluent either prior to the hot pressing or after the hot pressing step. Also, the ionomeric polymer membrane may be formed by casting from a liquid mixture containing ionomeric polymer and diluent.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS [0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Patent Application Ser. No. 60 / 661,015 filed Mar. 14, 2005, and the complete contents of this application are herein incorporated by reference.STATEMENT OF GOVERNMENT INTEREST [0002] This invention was made with government support under Contract Number DAAD19-02-1-0275 awarded by the U.S. Army Research Laboratory and the U.S. Army Research Office. The Government has certain rights in the invention.DESCRIPTION Background of the Invention [0003] 1. Field of the Invention [0004] The present invention generally relates to ionic polymer transducers, sensors and actuators. [0005] 2. Description of the Prior Art [0006] Ionomeric polymer membranes are materials that behave as solid-state electrolytes, making them useful in a variety of applications, including fuel cells, water electrolyzers, transducers, actuators and sensors. Ionomeric polymer membrane transducers have existed in their curre...

Claims

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Application Information

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IPC IPC(8): C25B13/00C25C7/04
CPCF03G7/005F05B2230/60F05B2230/00
Inventor AKLE, BARBARLEO, DONALDBENNETT, MATTHEWWILES, KENTMCGRATH, JAMES E.
Owner VIRGINIA TECH INTPROP INC
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