Development of highly conductive and highly stretchable conductive polymer and its application to soft actuators

2018 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 16H04203
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (B)
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: Polymer/Textile materials
• Research Institution: University of Yamanashi
• Principal Investigator: OKUZAKI Hidenori 山梨大学, 大学院総合研究部, 教授 (60273033)
• Project Period (FY): 2016-04-01 – 2019-03-31
• Keywords: 導電性高分子 / ソフトアクチュエータ / PEDOT/PSS

Outline of Final Research Achievements

In this study, poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene)/poly(4-styrenesulfonic acid) (PEDOT/PSS) aqueous dispersions were newly synthesized at different polymerization temperatures. Moreover, the PEDOT/PSS/PG films were fabricated by adding polyglycerol (PG) to the PEDOT/PSS aqueous dispersion. It was found that the PEDOT/PSS/PG spin coated on polyurethane film was stretchable up to 170% and the electrical conductivity reached up to 411 S/cm. By spraying PEDOT/PSS/PG electrodes on both sides of ionic liquid/polyurethane gel, we succeeded in fabricating a microactuator that operates at a frequency of 100 Hz.

Free Research Field

高分子化学

Academic Significance and Societal Importance of the Research Achievements

本研究開発の最大の特色は、高導電性と高伸縮性を合わせ持つ導電性高分子という、従来には無かった素材をソフトアクチュエータ電極として用いる点である。高導電性・高伸縮性導電性高分子の開発は、電子ペーパーやタッチパネル、有機太陽電池などフレキシブルで印刷可能な伸縮性有機エレクトロニクスにおいて重要である。一方、小型、軽量、柔軟で動作音が無いソフトアクチュエータは、マイクロポンプや能動カテーテル、ガイドワイヤなどの医療機器や、触覚センサ、パワーアシストスーツなど介護・福祉分野での応用が期待できる。