• Smart Structures and Systems
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• v.4 no.5
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• pp.549-563
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• 2008

The ability of an electroactive polymer, IPMC (Ionic Polymer Metal Composites,) to produce electric charge under mechanical deformations may be exploited for the development of next generation of energy harvesters. Two different electrode types (gold and platinum) were employed for the experiments. The sample was tested under dynamic conditions, produced through programmed shaking. In order to evaluate the potential of IPMC for dry condition, these samples were treated with ionic liquid. Three modes of mechanical deformations (bending, tension and shear) were analyzed. Experimental results clearly indicate that IPMCs are attractive applicants for energy harvesting, with inherent advantages like flexibility, low cost, negligible maintenance and virtually infinite longevity. Besides, preliminary energy harvesting model of IPMC has been formulated based upon the work of previous investigators (Newbury 2002, Newbury and Leo 2002, Lee, et al. 2005, Konyo, et al. 2004) and the simulation results reciprocate experimental results within acceptable error.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.16 no.1
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• pp.45-50
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• 2008

This study examined the swelling behavior and in vitro release of a model drug, tetracycline-HCl, from alginate and alginate-polyaspartate (Alg-PASP) composite gel beads. The alginate and Alg-PASP composite beads were prepared using an ionic crosslinking method with aqueous $Ca^{2+}$. Their microporous morphology was observed by scanning electron microscopy. The swelling ratio of the beads in different media varied according to their composition, cross-linking density ($Ca^{2+}$ concentration), and pH of the aqueous medium. The in vitro release experiment of the tetracycline-HCl encapsulated beads in different media suggests that the release of the drug is governed mainly by the swelling properties of the polymer network. The presence of PASP was found to significantly influence the swelling properties and drug release profile.

• Journal of Electrochemical Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.3
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• pp.362-368
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• 2022

The application of polymer composite electrolyte in all-solid-state lithium-sulfur battery (ASSLSBs) can guarantee high energy density and improve the interface contact between electrolyte and electrode, which has a broader application prospect. However, the inherent insulation of the sulfur-cathode leads to a low electron/ion transfer rate. Carbon materials with high electronic conductivity and electrolyte materials with high ionic conductivity are usually selected to improve the electron/ion conduction of the composite cathode. In this work, PEO-LiTFSI-LLZO composite polymer electrolyte (CPE) with high ionic conductivity was prepared. The ionic conductivity was 1.16×10^-4 and 7.26×10^-4 S cm^-1 at 20 and 60℃, respectively. Meanwhile, the composite sulfur cathode was prepared with Sulfur, reduced graphene oxide and composite polymer electrolyte slurry (S-rGO-CPEs). In addition to improving the ion conductivity in the cathode, CPEs also replaces the role of binder. The influence of different contents of CPEs in the cathode material on the performance of the constructed battery was investigated. The results show that the electrochemical performance of the all-solid-state lithium-sulfur battery is the best when the content of the composite electrolyte in the cathode is 40%. Under the condition of 0.2C and 45℃, the charging and discharging capacity of the first cycle is 923 mAh g^-1, and the retention capacity is 653 mAh g^-1 after 50 cycles.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society of Precision Engineering Conference
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• 2010.05a
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• pp.739-740
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• 2010

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.33 no.4
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• pp.377-383
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• 2009

Ionic polymer-metal composite (IPMC) actuator generates bending actuation via ion/water flux to the cathode side under an electric field. Polyelectrolytes in IPMC should possess high water-retention capability, proton conductivity, and Young's modulus. In this study. for endowing IPMCs with these properties, Nafion-alumina composite membranes containing $\alpha$- or $\gamma$-aluminas of $4{\sim}8$ wt% were prepared. Mechanical moduli of Nafion-alumina composite membranes were $7{\sim}3$ MPa higher than that of Nafion, with the slight decrease in proton conductivity. At DC 3 V. the actuation performance of the Nafion-$\alpha$-alumina (8 wt%)-IPMC was superior to that of the typical Nafion-IPMC. exhibiting 2.7 times the displacement with an enhanced blocking force. The enhanced actuation performance with the Nafion-$\alpha$-alumina composite membranes was attributed to the higher proton conductivity, the elevated ion/water flux, and the lower interfacial electric resistance of platinum electrodes and membrane, compared with those containing $\gamma$-alumina.

• The Transactions of the Korean Institute of Electrical Engineers C
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• v.52 no.7
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• pp.298-304
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• 2003

IPMC(Ionic Polymer-Metal Composite) is a highly sensitive actuator that shows a large deformation in presence of low applied voltage. Generally, IPMC can be fabricated by electroless plating of platinum on both sides of a Nafion (perfluorosulfonic acid) film. When a commercial Nafion film is used as a base structure of the IPMC membrane, the micro-pump structure and the IPMC membrane are fabricated separately and then later assembled, which makes the fabrication inefficient. Therefore, fabrication of an IPMC membrane and the micro-pump structure on a single wafer without the need of assembly have been developed. The silicon wafer was partially etched to hold liquid Nafion to be casted and a 60-${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ thick IPMC membrane was realized. IPMC membranes with various size were fabricated by casting and they showed 4-2${\mu}{\textrm}{m}$ displacements from $4mm{\times}4mm$ , $6mm{\times}6mm$, $8mm{\times}8mm$ membranes at the applied voltage ranging from 2Vp-p to 5Vp-p at 0.5Hz. The displacement of the fabricated IPMC membranes is fairly proportional to the membrane area and the applied voltage.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.9 no.4
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• pp.137-140
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• 2006

In order to overcome the weak actuation and relaxation problems during the deformation of IPMC actuator, polymeric anion (polystyrenesulfonate)-doped polypyrrole(Ppy(PSS)) was electrodeposited onto IPMC actuator. Electrochemical quartz crystal microbalance study showed that hydrated cations were instilled into Ppy(PSS) film and polymeric-anion dopants introduced during polymerization were not expelled. Ppy(PSS)-coated IPMC actuator formed two electrode/electrolyte interfaces, Pt/nafion and Ppy(PSS)/bulk solution, and additive volume expansion phenomena at interfaces induced the large deformation compensating the relaxation of actuation by back diffusion of water.

• Polymer(Korea)
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• v.29 no.5
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• pp.463-467
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• 2005

In order to enhance the actuation force of ionic polymer-metal composite (IPMC) made with the acrylic copolymer of fluoroalkyl methacryate, acrylic acie, and 2-hydroxyethyl methacrylate(HEMA), the hydroxy group of HEMA was corsslinked with 1,3-diethoxy-1,1,3,3-tetramethyldisiloxane. The water uptake was reduced and the mechanical strengths and the actuation force of the membrane was improved by crosslinking. However, current and deformation responses of IPMC were decreased by crosslinking.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.14 no.1
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• pp.9-15
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• 2011

The composite membranes comprising of sulfonated polymers as matrix and ionic liquids as ion-conducting medium in replacement of water are studied to investigate the effect of annealing of the sulfonated polymers. The polymeric membranes are prepared on recast Nafion containing the ionic liquid, 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate ($EMIBF_4$). The composite membranes are characterized by thermogravitational analyses, ion conductivity and small-angle X-ray scattering. The composite membranes annealed at $190^{\circ}C$ for 2 h after the fixed drying step showed better ionic conductivity, but no significant increase in thermal stability. The mean Bragg distance between the ionic clusters, which is reflected in the position of the ionomer peak (small-angle scattering maximum), is larger in the annealed composite membranes containing $EMIBF_4$ than the non-annealed ones. It might have been explained to be due to the different level of ion-clustering ability of the hydrophilic parts (i.e., sulfonic acid groups) in the non- and annealed polymer matrix. In addition, the ionic conductivity of the membranes shows higher for the annealed composite membranes containing $EMIBF_4$. It can be concluded that the annealing of the composite membranes containing ionic liquids due to an increase in ion-clustering ability is able to bring about the enhancement of ionic conductivity suitable for potential use in proton exchange membrane fuel cells (PEMFCs) at medium temperatures ($150-200^{\circ}C$) in the absence of external humidification.

• Journal of the Korean Electrochemical Society
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.101-106
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• 2016

In this study, we prepared an ionic liquid composite solid polymer electrolyte (PEO-LiTFSI-$Pyr_{14}TFSI$) with poly(ethylen oxide), lithium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide, N-butyl-N-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethanesulfonyl)imide by blending-cross linking process. Although the PEO-LiTFSI-$Pyr_{14}TFSI$ composite solid polymer electrolyte displayed a small peak at 4.4 V, it had high electrochemical oxidation stability up to 5.7 V. Ionic conductivity of the PEO-LiTFSI-$Pyr_{14}TFSI$ composite solid polymer electrolyte increased with increasing temperature from $10^{-6}S\;cm^{-1}$ at $30^{\circ}C$ to $10^{-4}S\;cm^{-1}$ at $70^{\circ}C$. To investigate the electrochemical properties, the PEO-LiTFSI-$Pyr_{14}TFSI$ composite solid polymer electrolyte assembled with $LiFePO_4$ cathode and Li-metal anode. At 0.1 C-rate, the cell delivered $40mAh\;g^{-1}$ for $30^{\circ}C$, $69.8mAh\;g^{-1}$ for $40^{\circ}C$ and $113mAh\;g^{-1}$ for $50^{\circ}C$, respectively. The PEO-LiTFSI-$Pyr_{14}TFSI$ solid polymer electrolyte exhibited good charge-discharge performance in Li/SPE/$LiFePO_4$ cells at $50^{\circ}C$.