Virginia TechLiu, S.Montazami, RezaLiu, Y.Jain, V.Lin, M. R.Heflin, James R.Zhang, Q. M.2014-01-282014-01-282009-07-01Liu, Sheng; Montazami, Reza; Liu, Yang; et al., "Layer-by-layer self-assembled conductor network composites in ionic polymer metal composite actuators with high strain response," Appl. Phys. Lett. 95, 023505 (2009); http://dx.doi.org/10.1063/1.31795540003-6951http://hdl.handle.net/10919/25183We investigate the electromechanical response of conductor network composite (CNC) fabricated by the layer-by-layer (LbL) self-assembly method. The process makes it possible for CNCs to be fabricated at submicron thickness with high precision and quality. This CNCs exhibits high strain similar to 6.8% under 4 V, whereas the RuO(2)/Nafion CNCs exhibit strain similar to 3.3%. The high strain and submicron thickness of the LbL layers in an ionic polymer metal composite (IPMC) yield large and fast actuation. The response time of a 26 mu m thick IPMC with 0.4 mu m thick LbL CNCs to step voltage of 4 V is 0.18 s.en-USIn CopyrightActuatorsElectromechanical effectsIonic conductivityMaterialsPreparationPolymer filmsRuthenium compoundsSelf-assemblySensorsPhysicsArticle - Refereedhttp://scitation.aip.org/content/aip/journal/apl/95/2/10.1063/1.3179554https://doi.org/10.1063/1.3179554