具有枝状电极界面的离子聚合物-金属复合材料制备工艺及其机电行为研究

As one of typical smart materials, ionic polymer - metal composites (IPMC) exhibits several unique characteristics, such as flexibility, large deformation etc., with a wide range of applications in intelligent actuating and sensing area. However, it has been found that although IPMC with dendritic interface between the electrode and substrate membrane represents excellent electromechanical properties, it failed to develop preparation technology with dendritic electrode interface based on various metal types, which restricts the development of IPMC. Therefore, to solve this problem, we first propose a novel preparation technology for preparing IPMC with dendritic electrode interface combined with reduction plating and electroplating technology in this project. Through studying on the formation process and morphology of dendritic electrode interface and its key factors, we clarify the formation mechanism and control strategy of dendritic morphology electrode interface by means of metal cation migration-reduction theory in polyelectrolyte, and further reveal the interaction between interface morphology, physical parameters and electromechanical behavior of IPMC. Furthermore, we will develop a series of universal preparation processes of IPMC with dendritic electrode interface, which are suitable for palladium, platinum, silver, copper, nickel and other metals as electrode. Obviously, our research will promote practical application level of IPMC.

离子聚合物-金属复合材料(Ionic Polymer-Metal Composites，简称IPMC)是一种新型智能材料，由于其具有柔韧性好、变形大等特点，在智能驱动和智能传感中具有广泛的应用前景。然而，人们虽然已经发现在电极与基体膜之间具有枝状界面特性的IPMC材料具有优良的机电特性，但却未能开发出适应于各种金属类型的枝状电极界面制备工艺，这制约着IPMC材料的进一步发展。基于此，本项目首次提出采用电镀与还原镀工艺相结合的方法制备具有枝状电极界面的IPMC材料。通过对枝状电极界面的形成过程、形貌特征及其关键影响因素的研究，借助于金属阳离子在聚电解质的迁移-还原理论，阐明枝状电极界面的形成机制与形貌控制策略，并揭示界面形貌特征、材料物理参数乃至机电行为之间的相互作用关系，开发一套适用于钯、铂、银、铜、镍等金属的、具有枝状界面特性的IPMC材料通用制备工艺，为IPMC材料的实用化奠定基础。

在IPMC材料换能过程中，电极具有两个重要作用：一是作为加载电压、传导电流的载体；二是与中间层形成能够容纳一定电荷量的电容器。显然，具有良好电极特性的IPMC材料必然具有优良的换能性能。本项目的核心目标是通过电镀工艺获得具有枝状界面电极特性的IPMC材料。围绕这一目标，本项目的研究内容包括：1）搭建实验平台，开展基体膜及枝状界面电极的参数优化实验；2）研究枝状界面电极的形成机理及模型描述；3）开展复合金属枝状界面电极制备及表征、测试及应用研究。本项目提出建立基体膜表面粗糙度参数与IPMC材料机电性能之间的定量关系，为进一步改进IPMC材料制备工艺提供重要依据；本项目发现电镀方法可以获得具有良好比电容特性的具有枝状界面电极的IPMC材料，并提出了相应的制备工艺，成功获得不同金属电极类型的具有枝状界面电极的IPMC材料。项目团队在国内外知名学术期刊和国际会议上发表论文15篇，申请发明专利9项，较好地完成了预期的研究任务，并培养研究生5人。本项目的研究成果对于促进IPMC材料的产业化应用具有重要意义。