Layer-by-layer self-assembled conductor network composites in ionic polymer metal composite actuators with high strain response

We investigate the electromechanical response of conductor network composite (CNC) fabricated by the layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly method. The process makes it possible for CNCs to be fabricated at submicron thickness with high precision and quality. This CNCs exhibits high strain ∼6.8% under 4 V, whereas the RuO2/Nafion CNCs exhibit strain ∼3.3%. The high strain and submicron thickness of the LbL layers in an ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) yield large and fast actuation. The response time of a 26 μm thick IPMC with 0.4 μm thick LbL CNCs to step voltage of 4 V is 0.18 s.