Characteristics of soft actuators based on polypyrrole films

Electrochemical soft actuators based on polypyrrole films electrodeposited in p-phenolsulfonic (PPS) acid have been studied as the function of various supporting electrolytes and load stress. The films keep the high electroch emical activity in the wide pH range of 4 < pH < 10. The film is found to e xpand by the ratio of 3% and to be primarily driven by the insertion of bul ky ions, regardless of oxidation and reduction. The contraction force of th e films has been found to be more than 5MPa with the contraction ratio of 1 .2%.