All printed soft actuators based on ionic liquid/polymer hybrid materials

Abstract Soft actuators are increasingly being required for a variety of application ranging from robotics to biomedicine. This work reports on the development printable materials soft actuator applications based ionic liquids (ILs) and fluorinated polymer, poly(vinylidene fluoride) (PVDF). ILs sharing same cation 1?butyl?3-methylimidazolium, [Bmim]+ different anions (tricyanomethanide, [C(CN3)]?, dicyanamide, [N(CN2)]? thiocyanate, [SCN]?) were incorporated into PVDF polymer matrix at 40% wt. processed by direct writing printing technique. Rheological measurements IL/PVDF solutions allowed stablish correlation between shear stress viscosity, observed thinning behavior. Independently IL anion, inclusion leads variations in sample morphology related formation significantly smaller spherulites than with well-defined borders an increase electroactive ? phase content crystallinity degree polymer. The incorporation induces mechanical plasticizing effect. A maximum conductivity 5.2 × 10?5 S/cm has been achieved [Bmim][N(CN2)]/PVDF composite. potential developed as experimentally demonstrated theoretically evaluated, highest displacement 1.0 mm applied voltage 4 Vpp obtained [Bmim][SCN]/PVDF. Finally, implementation all printed micro gripper shows applications.