Sulfonic SiO(2) nanocolloid doped perfluorosulfonic acid films with enhanced water uptake and inner channel for IPMC actuators

This study provides a facile and effective strategy to fabricate sulfonic SiO(2) nanocolloid (HSO(3)–SiO(2)) doped perfluorosulfonic acid (PFSA) films with enhanced water uptake and inner channel for high-performance and cost-effective ionic exchange polymer metal composite (IPMC) actuators. A commercial precursor of mercaptopropyl trimethoxysilane was hydrolyzed to form thiol functionalized SiO(2) nanocolloids (SH–SiO(2), ∼25 nm in diameter), which were further oxidized into sulfonic SiO(2) nanocolloids (HSO(3)–SiO(2), ∼14 nm in diameter). Both SiO(2) nanocolloids were used as additives to dope PFSA film for fabricating IPMC-used matrix films. Due to difference of compatibility, the SH–SiO(2) nanocolloids take phase separation in the cocrystallization course, and aggregate into huge, regular spherical particles with a mean diameter of ∼690 μm; while the HSO(3)–SiO(2) nanocolloids are completely compatible with PFSA, forming a very homogeneous hybrid matrix film. Related physiochemical investigations by analytical tools revealed that, the resultant HSO(3)–SiO(2) hybrid film shows better IPMC-related properties compared to the SH–SiO(2) hybrid film: 1.59 folds in water uptake, and 2.37 folds in ion exchanging capacity, thus contains an increased number of cations and possesses larger and better interconnected inner channels for IPMC bending. Consequently, the HSO(3)–SiO(2) hybrid IPMC actuator exhibits remarkably higher levels of actuation behaviours such as higher force output, higher displacement output, and longer stable working time, which could be used as a valuable artificial muscle for flexible actuators or displacement/vibration sensors at low cost.