Electroactive solid-state actuator and method of manufacturing the same

Abstract

The present invention provides an electroactive solid-state actuator, including a solid polymer electrolyte film having first and second main surfaces facing each other, and first and second conductive polymer layers infiltrated into the first and second main surfaces of the solid polymer electrolyte film. Further, a method of manufacturing the electroactive solid-state actuator is provided, the method including preparing a solid polymer film having first and second main surfaces facing each other, infiltrating a monomer of a conductive polymer into the first and second main surfaces of the solid polymer film, followed by polymerization, to form first and second conductive polymer layers, and immersing the solid polymer film into an ionic liquid or liquid electrolyte to be converted to an electrically conductive polymer.

1 . A method of manufacturing an electroactive solid-state actuator, comprising:
 preparing a solid polymer film having first and second main surfaces facing each other;   infiltrating a monomer of a conductive polymer into the first and second main surfaces of the solid polymer film, followed by polymerization, to form first and second conductive polymer layers; and   immersing the solid polymer film into an ionic liquid or liquid electrolyte to be converted to a conductive polymer.   
     
     
         2 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the solid polymer film comprises acrylonitrile butadiene rubber. 
     
     
         3 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the forming of the first and second conductive polymer layers includes immersing the solid polymer film into the monomer solution of the conductive polymer, polymerizing the monomer on the solid polymer film to form the conductive polymer layer, and cutting the solid polymer film into a predetermined size to expose side surfaces thereof, whereby the cut solid polymer film has the first and second conductive polymer layers formed on the first and second main surfaces thereof and separated from each other by the cut side surface thereof. 
     
     
         4 . The method as set forth in  claim 3 , wherein the solid polymer film comprises acrylonitrile butadiene rubber. 
     
     
         5 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the monomer used in the forming of the conductive polymer is selected from the group consisting of pyrrole, aniline, ethylene dioxythiophene, acetylene, phenylene, thiophene, phenylene vinylene, thienylene vinylene, and combinations thereof. 
     
     
         6 . The method as set forth in  claim 5 , wherein the solid polymer film comprises acrylonitrile butadiene rubber. 
     
     
         7 . The method as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the ionic liquid or liquid electrolyte includes an organic cation selected from among imidazolium, pyridinium and quaternary ammonium, and an organic anion selected from among BF 4   − , CF 3 SO 3   −  and (CF 3 SO 2 ) 2 N − . 
     
     
         8 . The method as set forth in  claim 7 , wherein the solid polymer film comprises acrylonitrile butadiene rubber.