We reported some work on flexible tactile sensors based on Flemion ionic polymer metal composites previously. In this
work, we compared the signals in both voltage and current with the signals obtained from a giant nerve fiber reported
previously by other researchers. We found some similarities between the artificial tactile sensor and the nerve fiber, in
both of which ionic movement play a very important role. This bio-inspired Flemion based ionic polymer metal
composites would be a good candidate for bio-related sensors especially for prosthetic limb socket interface applications.
Ionic polymer metal composites based on Nafion and Flemion have attracted great attention as an newly developed
actuator and sensor materials due to their good performance, such as light weight, good flexibility, low actuation voltage,
large strain, good sensitivity. Previous investigations were mostly focused on actuation performance. Recently, we
reported some work on flexible tactile sensors based on Flemion ionic polymer metal composites. In this work, we
expanded the previous single-dome tactile sensor into a three by three arrayed structure. The correlated substrate and
signal collective lines were designed. Several mechanical-electrical relationships on different test domes were obtained
when different mechanical input pulses were applied. According to the experiment results, this tactile sensor arrays could
achieve good special resolution. By further improving signal circuits, a flexible large-area sensing system could be
achieved based on this material. Flemion based ionic polymer metal composites would be a good candidate for
bio-related sensors especially for artificial derma applications.
Electroactive polymers, Nafion and Flemion, have been widely investigated as actuator materials due to their good
performance, such as light weight, good flexibility, low actuation voltage, large strain. However, less research work has
been done on the sensing behaviors of these materials. In this work, we design and fabricate a tactile sensor based on
Flemion with water as solvent. Several mechano-electro relationships were obtained when different mechanical input
pulses were applied. According to the experiment results, Flemion-based composite could survive much longer time as
sensor materials than that as actuator materials in air. By proper design and fabrication, a tactile sensor for potential
three-dimensional sensing could be achieved based on this material. Electroactive based polymers would be a good
candidate for bio-related sensors especially for artificial derma applications.
A perfluorinated carboxylic acid membrane, i.e. Flemion, shows improved performance as actuator material compared with Nafion (perfluorinated sulfonic acide). Flemion has a higher ion exchange capacity and good mechanical strength. Especially, Flemion will deform with no back relaxation when applied electrical stimulus. However, with water as solvent, the operation of Flemion in air has serious problems. Since water would evaporate quickly in air. Moreover, the electrochemical stability for use in water is around 1V at room temperature. In previous work, investigations on Nafion with ionic liquid as solvents have been carried out and good results have been obtained. In this work, we explore the use of highly stable ionic liquid instead of water as solvent in Flemion. Experimental results indicate that Flemion based actuators with ionic liquid as solvent have improved stability as compared to the water samples. Although the forces exhibited by Flemion based actuators with the use of ionic liquid decreased dramatically as compared to water, these preliminary results suggest a good potential for use of Flemion with ionic liquid in some applications.
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