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Characterization of Electromechanical Transduction in Polyelectrolyte Gels for Mechanical Sensor Applications

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 February 2011

Katsiaryna Prudnikova  and
Marcel Utz
Katsiaryna Prudnikova
Affiliation:
[email protected], University of Virginia, Mechanical & Aerospace Engineering, 122 Engineer's Way, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, United States, 434 242 6190
Marcel Utz
Affiliation:
[email protected], University of Virginia, Center for Microsystems for the Life Sciences and Department of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Charlottesville, VA, 22904, United States
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Abstract

We report a new experimental method for the characterization of the electromechanical properties of polyelectrolyte gels (PG). PGs have been studied extensively, but with limited success, as mechanical actuators. However, they are also promising as potentially biocompatible mechanical sensors. In order to integrate them into actual devices, their electromechanical transduction properties need to be characterized in a reproducible manner.

We have therefore developed a technique to measure the mechanically induced change in electrostatic potential in PGs. The polyelectrolyte gel is subjected to a well-defined pressure gradient by placing a thin, flat sample on a substrate with integrated concentric Platinum electrodes and indenting it with a spherical indenter. The potential values at the electrodes are measured using a MOSFET operational amplifier circuit with an input impedance of 1014 Ù and an effective dynamic range better than 16 bit. This method can be directly used to quantify electromechanical coupling in polyelectrolyte gels.

Keywords

polymersensorelectrical properties
Type
Research Article
Information
MRS Online Proceedings Library (OPL) , Volume 1006: Symposium R – Transport Behavior in Heterogeneous Polymeric Materials and Composites , 2007 , 1006-R07-07
Copyright
Copyright © Materials Research Society 2007

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