Smart Ionic Polymer Conductor Composite Materials as Multifunctional Distributed Nanosensors, Nanoactuators and Artificial Muscles

摘要

Basic recent results, properties and characteristics of ionic polymer conductor composites (IPCC) and ionic polymer metal composites (IPMC) as biomimetic distributed nanosensors, nanoactuators, nanotransducers and artificial muscles are briefly discussed in this paper. In particular the paper first starts with some fundamental considerations on biomimetic distributed nanosensing and nanoactuation and then expands its coverage to some recent advances in manufacturing techniques, force optimization, 3-D fabrication of IPMC’s, recent modeling and simulations, sensing and transduction and product development. The paper also covers some recent industrial and medical applications including a multi-fingered grippers (macro, micro, nano), biomimetic robotic fish and caudal fin actuators, diaphragm micropump, multi-string musical instruments, linear actuators made with IPMC’s, IPMC-based data glove and attire, IPMC-based heart compression/assist devices and systems, wing flapping flying system made with IPMC’s and a host of others.