Research and development of novel micro-motors exploiting electro-active polymers

2015 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 26630084
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Challenging Exploratory Research
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Research Field: Intelligent mechanics/Mechanical systems
• Research Institution: Tohoku University
• Principal Investigator: NAKANO Masami 東北大学, 流体科学研究所, 教授 (40147947)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): TOTSUKA Atsushi 東北大学, 流体科学研究所, 技術専門職員 (40626313)
• Project Period (FY): 2014-04-01 – 2016-03-31
• Keywords: 機能性材料 / 電界応答ポリマー / ポリマーコンポジット / エポキシ系ポリマー / 回転現象 / マイクロモータ / MEMS

Outline of Final Research Achievements

"Quincke rotation" is the rotation of non-conducting objects immersed in dielectric liquid and subjected to a strong uniform DC electric field. The rotation is spontaneous when the field exceeds a threshold value. In this research, for the purpose of developing a micro motor utilizing the Quincke rotation, electro-active polymer composites and an epoxy-based polymer SU-8 have been developed as materials for a micro motor rotor, and the motor characteristics are investigated as a function of applied uniform DC electric field intensity, the diameter and thickness of the rotors with shapes such as disk, hollow cylinder and gear. The rotational speed of the micron-sized rotors can be conveniently tuned in wide range (between 200 - 3000 rpm) by the electric field intensity, opening new perspectives for their use in several MEMS applications. Finally, a miniaturized cubic motor of 3mm square and 7mm height with the polymer composite rotor has been fabricated.

Free Research Field

工学、機械工学、流体工学、機械力学・制御、知能機械