A Scalable Model for Trilayer Conjugated Polymer Actuators and Its Experimental Validation

Conjugated polymers have promising applications as actuators in biomimetic robotics and bio/micromanipulation. For these applications, it is highly desirable to have predictive models available for feasibility study and design optimization. In this paper a geometrically-scalable model is presented for trilayer conjugated polymer actuators based on the diffusive-elastic-metal model. The proposed model characterizes actuation behaviors in terms of intrinsic material parameters and actuator dimensions. Experiments are conducted on polypyrrole actuators of different dimensions to validate the developed scaling laws for the quasi-static force and displacement output, the electrical admittance, and the dynamic displacement response.