Electro-chemical aspects of IPMCs within the framework of the theory of porous media
P. Leichsenring, S. Serdas, T. Wallmersperger, J. Bluhm, J. Schroeder,
Volume: 26. Pages: 045004
DOI: 10.1088/1361-665X/aa590e
Published: 2017
Abstract
Ionomeric polymer–metal composites (IPMCs) consist of an ionomer
with bound anionic groups and mobile counterions. They are plated
with noble impermeable metal cover layers. By application of an electric
voltage, a transport of the mobile ions towards the respective electrode
occurs. Due to local electrostatic and ionic forces, a local deformation
of the IPMC can be observed. Therefore IPMCs are promising candidates
for electrochemical transducers. In the present research, the chemo-electro-mechanical
behavior of IPMCs is described within the framework of the theory
of porous media. First, the field equations are derived with respect
to the second law of thermodynamics. Second, a reduced set of equations
for the chemo-electric behavior is formulated and discretized by
applying the finite element method. In the numerical investigations
a parametric study of the time and space dependent behavior is carried
out in order to quantify the influence of different material compositions.
Based on this study, the characteristic response of IPMC to the application
of an electric voltage can be predicted. Concluding, the obtained
computational framework is an excellent tool for the design of electrochemical
transducers.