Investigation into Electromechanical Properties of Biocompatible Chitosan-Based Ionic Actuator

Ionic actuators have attracted much attention due to their remarkably large strain under low-voltage stimulation. Here, we investigate a highly biocompatible ionic polymer actuator, which consists of multi-walled carbon nanotube (MCNT) film as a double electrode layer and an electrolyte layer equipped with chitosan polymer skeleton and ionic liquid. As a result, with the thickness increase of the electrolyte layer and the electrode layer, the membrane capacitance values are obviously improved, which are 0.01 F (membrane thickness of 1.3 mm) and 0.4 F (0.25 mm). The blocking force and its response speed show peak values of 5.75 mN (1.1 mm) and 5.1 mN (0.25 mm), while reverse increases for the displacement and its response speed are observed, which present maximum values of 10.3 mm (0.3 mm) and 13.3 mm (0.15 mm). Furthermore, for various thicknesses of the electrode layers under applied direct current of 5 V, the generated strain of 0.15 mm thickness (59%) is 4.92 times greater than that of the 0.25 mm thickness. This is against the strain difference on the electrode surface due to the growing stiffness of the electrode layer. Additionally, from the experiments of the electromechanical energy efficiency of various electrode layers and electrolyte layers, our actuator exhibits excellent electromechanical energy efficiency under a high electrical conductivity of the electrode layer, which enhance the specific electromechanical energy up to 9.95%.