摘要
This study investigates the energy conversion of a three-dimensional (3D) four-electrode (4E) ion polymer-metal composite (IPMC) transducer with multidirectional control capability. Two kinds of 3D4E IPMC transducers are discussed: (1) a device that encloses a section of optical fiber; (2) a device that only contains Nafion-metal electrodes (without fiber enclosed). The fabricated 3D4E IPMC actuators of the dimension (∼1.6 mm × 0.8 mm × 5 mm) with/without an enclosed fiber are characterized to examine electrical to mechanical energy conversion efficiency under various driving configurations and operation signals. During periodic square wave actuation, the voltage across the device and the current flowing through the device are measured; meanwhile, the displacement is synchronously recorded. Power consumption and the mechanical energy generated by the transducers are calculated. The resulting maximum instantaneous and long-term averaged energy conversion factors, which are 0.0238 and 0.242 × 10 -3 , respectively, occur in the transducers with fibers enclosed.