Effect of room temperature ionic liquids adsorption on electromechanical behavior of cellulose electro-active paper

The cellulose smart material called electro-active paper (EAPap) is made by regenerating cellulose. However, the actuator performance is degraded at low humidity levels. To solve this drawback, EAPap bending actuators were made by activating wet cellulose films in three different room-temperature ionic liquids: 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexaflurophosphate (BMIPF6), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BMICL) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluroborate (BMIBF4). In the results, the actuator performance was dependent on the type of anions in the ionic liquids, in the order of BF4> Cl > PF6. The BMIBF4-activated actuator showed the maximum displacement of 3.8 mm with low electrical power consumption at relatively low humidity. However, the BMICL-activated actuator showed a slight degradation of actuator performance. Further performance and durability improvement will be possible once various ionic liquids are blended with cellulose.