Abstract:

Ionic polymer-metal composites (IPMC) are a kind of electroactive smart soft materials, which consist of an ion-exchange polymer film and two flexible electrodes on the upper and lower surfaces of the polymer film. Among them, the performance of flexible electrodes is important to the IPMC, which is one of the research hotspots in the field of smart soft materials. At present, there are relatively few works on the electrode of IPMC sensing, and the electrodes suitable for IPMC actuation generally meet the requirements of IPMC sensing. Thus, the recent progress of IPMC flexible electrodes from the aspects of material selection, fabrication and performance improvement for IPMC actuation was reviewed in this paper. Firstly, the composition, driving and sensing mechanism of IPMC were briefly summarized. Then, the electrode materials were classified, and the problems of different materials were summarized when used as IPMC electrodes, such as the fatigue cracking and low specific capacitance of metal electrodes, and the low conductivity of conductive polymer electrodes. Finally, the performance improvement of IPMC electrodes was mainly summarized and the development trend of IPMC flexible electrodes was prospected, which should have high conductivity, high specific capacitance and excellent stability for the application of IPMC intelligent devices.

Key words: smart soft material, ion polymer-metal composite, flexible electrode, electrical activity

摘要：

离子聚合物-金属复合材料（IPMC）是一种电活性的智能软材料，由离子交换薄膜及其上下表面的柔性电极组成，其中柔性电极的优异性能对于提升IPMC的驱动和传感性能至关重要。目前专门针对IPMC传感的电极研究相对较少，而适用于IPMC驱动的电极一般也满足其传感的电极要求，因此本文从IPMC柔性电极的材料筛选、制备和柔性电极对驱动性能的提升策略方面综述了IPMC柔性电极的国内外研究进展。首先，简单概述了IPMC智能软材料的组成及其驱动、传感机理；其次，归纳整理了IPMC电极材料的种类和各类电极材料面临的问题，如金属电极易疲劳开裂且比电容较低的问题，导电聚合物电极的电导率较低等问题；最后，重点综述了改性柔性电极在提升IPMC驱动性能方面的研究进展并展望了其发展趋势，理想的IPMC柔性电极应兼具较高的电导率、较大的比电容和优异的稳定性特点，以期为IPMC智能软材料的开发和应用提供参考。

关键词: 智能软材料, 离子聚合物-金属复合材料, 柔性电极, 电活性