Flemion-based actuator for mechanically controlled microwave switch

Marie Le Guilly; Chunye Xu; Victor Cheng; Minoru Taya; Lucien Opperman; Yasuo Kuga

doi:10.1117/12.484402

28 July 2003 Flemion-based actuator for mechanically controlled microwave switch

Marie Le Guilly, Chunye Xu, Victor Cheng, Minoru Taya, Lucien Opperman, Yasuo Kuga

Proceedings Volume 5051, Smart Structures and Materials 2003: Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD); (2003) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.484402
Event: Smart Structures and Materials, 2003, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

A microwave switch based on EAP presents several advantages. A switch based on Flemion is studied. Flemion a perfluorinated carboxylic acid membrane shows improved performance as actuator material compared with Nafion (perfluorinated sulfonic acid). Flemion has a higher ion exchange capacity and good mechanical strength. In order to get a good Flemion actuator, highly conductive soft gold electrodes with large fractal structure have to be deposited on the membrane. The impregnation reduction technique used for plating requires exchange of a gold complex and reduction by gradual sodium sulfite additions. K⁺ shows the highest exchange ratio with the gold complex and reducing bath temperatures around 60°C with enough reducing agent present are shown to promote the growth of a gold fractal structure. The resulting material shows an actuation displacement with no relaxation, a key feature for switch applications. A simple mechanical switch based on a flemion actuator is prepared and tested as a microwave switch.

Citation Download Citation

Marie Le Guilly, Chunye Xu, Victor Cheng, Minoru Taya, Lucien Opperman, and Yasuo Kuga "Flemion-based actuator for mechanically controlled microwave switch", Proc. SPIE 5051, Smart Structures and Materials 2003: Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD), (28 July 2003); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.484402

ACCESS THE FULL ARTICLE

INSTITUTIONAL
Select your institution to access the SPIE Digital Library.

SELECT YOUR INSTITUTION

PERSONAL
Sign in with your SPIE account to access your personal subscriptions or to use specific features such as save to my library, sign up for alerts, save searches, etc.

PERSONAL SIGN IN

No SPIE Account? Create one

PURCHASE THIS CONTENT

SUBSCRIBE TO DIGITAL LIBRARY

50 downloads per 1-year subscription

Members: $195

Non-members: $335 ADD TO CART

25 downloads per 1 - year subscription

Members: $145

Non-members: $250 ADD TO CART

PURCHASE SINGLE ARTICLE

Includes PDF, HTML & Video, when available