Investigation of stencil/ screen printing of silver (Ag) electrodes for ionic polymer metal composites (IPMCs)

Eva A. Sideris; Evangelos I. Augoulas; Erik F.G.A. Homburg; Marc P.F.H.L van Maris; Rick C. de Lange

doi:10.1117/12.2514292

13 March 2019 Investigation of stencil/ screen printing of silver (Ag) electrodes for ionic polymer metal composites (IPMCs)

Eva A. Sideris, Evangelos I. Augoulas, Erik F.G.A. Homburg, Marc P.F.H.L van Maris, Rick C. de Lange

Author Affiliations +

Proceedings Volume 10966, Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) XXI; 1096607 (2019) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2514292
Event: SPIE Smart Structures + Nondestructive Evaluation, 2019, Denver, Colorado, United States

Abstract

The main method for Ionic Polymer Metal Composite (IPMC) electrode fabrication employs RED-OX deposition of noble metals. However, as this chemical plating technique is expensive, time-consuming and uses dangerous chemicals, we investigate the deposition of silver (Ag) electrodes by an additive manufacturing technique; stencil/ screen printing. The results indicate exceptional adhesion and mechanical stability of the cured ink to the Nafion. Moreover, the electrical properties (surface resistance measurements with the 2-probe method), microstructure (with Scanning Electron Microscopy), in addition to the electro-active properties (deflection measurements after slight hydration of sample in water and the application of square waveforms of 10 V in amplitude and 0.05 Hz in frequency) of the 5 mm x 20 mm Ag metalised IPMCs in a cantilever configuration are tested. Resistances are low, in the range of 1.1 - 1.6 Ω, and SEM micrographs indicate electrodes of 10 μm in thickness. Preliminary results illustrate a similar relationship of the induced displacements and the applied voltages and for the samples. The methodology for the fabricated Ag - stencil/ screen printed- electroded IPMCs is introduced, and the properties of these IPMCs are exhibited. This paper hence presents a proof of principle study, utilising a method that can significantly reduce IPMC production costs, as it decreases material prises by approximately 98% and fabrication times from 48 hours down to less than an hour compared to the state-of-theart technique.

Conference Presentation

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Eva A. Sideris, Evangelos I. Augoulas, Erik F.G.A. Homburg, Marc P.F.H.L van Maris, and Rick C. de Lange "Investigation of stencil/ screen printing of silver (Ag) electrodes for ionic polymer metal composites (IPMCs)", Proc. SPIE 10966, Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD) XXI, 1096607 (13 March 2019); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.2514292

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