Analysis on enhancing the sensing behavior of ionic polymer metal composite based sensors

In this paper, an in-depth analysis of IPMC (ionic polymer metal composite) as sensors is performed, motivated by application to flapping wing micro air vehicles. The effect of water uptake for different IPMC samples reveals a correlation between IPMC metal content and water uptake. The effect of introducing a mass to the end of High-frequency IPMC (HFI similar to 20.9 Hz) sensor shows an improvement in the IPMC sensing behavior, whereas, for the Low-frequency IPMC (LFI similar to 8.9 Hz) sensor, there is a reverse trend. Gold (Au) coating on an HFI sensor results in a decrease in resonant frequency. Different mass loaded on the Au coated HFI beams reveals that the pre-bending by adding end mass to HFI sensor is beneficial up to a specific mass level, after which the sensing voltage decreases. The optimized mass loading for the Au coated HFI is determined.

Automated summary

This paper conducts an in-depth analysis of IPMC as sensors, revealing a correlation between IPMC metal content and water uptake. The study shows that introducing mass to the end of a high-frequency IPMC sensor improves sensing behavior, while low-frequency IPMC sensors exhibit a reverse trend. Gold coating on a high-frequency IPMC sensor decreases resonant frequency, and pre-bending with optimal mass loading benefits sensing voltage on the Au-coated HFI sensor.