• Journal of Electrical Engineering and Technology
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• v.7 no.6
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• pp.954-958
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• 2012

This paper reports a flexible patch rectenna for wireless actuation of cellulose electro-active paper actuator (EAPap). The patch rectenna consists of rectifying circuit layer and ground layer, which converts microwave to dc power so as to wirelessly supply the power to the actuator. Patch rectennas are designed with different slot length at the ground layer. The fabricated devices are characterized depending on different substrates and polarization angles. The EAPap integrated with the patch rectenna is actuated by the microwave power. Detailed fabrication, characterization and demonstration of the integrated rectenna-EAPap actuator are explained.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.727-730
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• 2005

Cellulose based Electro-Active Papers (EAPap) is very promising material due to its merits in terms of large bending deformation, low actuation voltage, ultra-lightweight, and biodegradability. These advantages make it possible to utilize applications, such as artificial muscles and achieving flapping wings, micro-insect robots and smart wall papers. This paper investigates the in-plane strains of EAPap under electric fields, which are useful for a contractile actuator application The preparation of EAPap samples and the in-plane strain measurement system are explained, and the test results are shown in terms of electric field, frequency and the oriental ions of the samples. The power consumption and the strain energy of EAPap samples are discussed. Although there are still unknown facts in EAPap material, this in-plane strain may be useful for artificial muscle applications.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.14 no.6
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• pp.624-629
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• 2006

The cellulose-based, Electroactive Paper (EAPap) has recently been reported as a smart material with the advantages of lightweight, dry condition, biodegradability, sustainability, large displacement output and low actuation voltage. However, it requires high humidity.. This paper introduces an EAPap made with a cellulose solution and lithium chloride (LiCl), which can be actuated in room humidity condition. The fabrication process, performance test and effect of LiCl content of the EAPap actuator are illustrated. The bending displacement of the EAPap actuators was evaluated with actuation voltage, frequency, humidity and LiCl content changes. At a LiCl/ cellulose content of 3:10, the displacement output was maximized at a room humidity condition. Even though the displacement output was less than that of a high humidity EAPap actuator, the mechanical power output was not reduced due to the increased resonance frequency, which is promising for developing EAPap actuators that are less sensitive to humidity.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.30 no.2
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• pp.241-246
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• 2013

This paper reports fabrication and characterization of cellulose Electro-Active Paper (EAPap) with increased thickness. Usual thickness of cellulose EAPap was $15{\mu}m$. This thickness needs to be increased to enhance the mechanical force output of EAPap. To fabricate thick cellulose EAPap, the fabrication process parameters including casting and drying processes should be investigated. In this paper, the casting thickness is increased from $800{\mu}m$ to $1500{\mu}m$, and heating times on a hot plate before and after curing process are introduced at 40 and $60^{\circ}C$ for 30 and 60 minutes, respectively. Thickness measurement, Thermal Gravitational Analysis (TGA), UV-transmittance, Young's modulus, and piezoelectric charge constant are measured. Heated EAPaps with increased thickness have similar TGA result, higher transmittance, higher Young's modulus and lower piezoelectric charge constant.

• Proceedings of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering Conference
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• 2005.11a
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• pp.735-738
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• 2005

Electro-Active Paper (EAPap) is attractive as an EAP actuator material due to its merits in terms of lightweight, dry condition, large displacement output, low actuation voltage and low power consumption. This paper presents the performance of EAPap actuators with thickness variation. The EAPap is made with cellulose paper, and is shown to bend in response to an external electric field. Up to the present, we have tested displacement, current and force of EAPap with 20 $\mu$m thickness. The thickness of EAPap is important factor that affects the performance of the actuator. Therefere, three different thickness of EAPap, 20, 30, and 40 $\mu$m are investigated that inference the tip displacement, blocked force, the resonance and the actuator efficiency. There is an optimum thickness of EAPap, which is resulted from the stiffness and the mass. The performance of EAPap with thickness is discussed.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.28 no.11
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• pp.1227-1233
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• 2011

Cellulose Electro-Active Paper (EAPap) has been known as a new smart material that is attractive for a bio-mimetic actuator due to its merits in terms of lightweight, dry condition, large displacement output, low actuation voltage and low power consumption. Cellulose EAPap is made by regenerating cellulose and aligning its micro-fibrils. This paper introduces several EAPap materials, which are based on natural cellulose and its hybrid nanocomposites mixed/blended with inorganic functional materials. By chemically bonding and mixing with carbon nanotubes and inorganic nanoparticles, the cellulose EAPap can be a hybrid nanocomposite that has versatile properties and can meet material requirements for many applications. Recent research trend of the cellulose EAPap is introduced in terms of material preparations as well as application devices including actuators, temperature and humidity sensors, biosensors, chemical sensors, and so on. This paper also explains wirelessly driving technology for the cellulose EAPap, which is attractive for bio-mimetic robotics, surveillance and micro-aerial vehicles.

• Journal of the Korean Society for Precision Engineering
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• v.31 no.8
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• pp.737-742
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• 2014

This paper reports a customized silver ink and its inkjet printing process on a cellulose electro-active paper (EAPap). To synthesize a silver ink, silver nanoparticle is synthesized from silver nitrate, polyvinylpyrrolidone and ethylene glycol, followed by adding a viscosifier, hydroxyethyl-cellulose solution, and a surfactant, diethylene glycol. The silver ink is used in an inkjet printer (Fujifilm Dimatix DMP-2800 series) to print silver electrodes on cellulose EAPap. After printing, the electrodes are heat treated at $200^{\circ}C$. The sintered electrodes show that the thickness of the electrodes linearly increases as the number of printing layers increases. The electrical resistivity of the printed electrodes is $23.5{\mu}{\Omega}-cm$. This customized ink can be used in inkjet printer to print complex electrode patterns on cellulose EAPap to fabricate flexible smart actuators, flexible electronics and sensors.

• Macromolecular Research
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• v.17 no.2
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• pp.116-120
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• 2009

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: l-butyl-3-methylimidazolium hexaflurophosphate ($BMIPF_6$), 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium chloride (BMICL) and 1-butyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluroborate ($BMIBF_4$). In the results, the actuator performance was dependent on the type of anions in the ionic liquids, in the order of $BF_4$>Cl>$PF_6$. The BMIBF 4-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.

• Transactions of the Korean Society for Noise and Vibration Engineering
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• v.18 no.12
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• pp.1310-1316
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• 2008

Bi-layer and tri-layer structures of electro-active paper(EAPap) using conductive polyaniline(PANI) coating were investigated to improve bending displacement of cellulose EAPap. Two different counter ions, perchlorate($CIO_4^-$) and tetrafluoroborate($BF_4^-$), are used as dopant ions in the PANI processing. The actuation performances of hi-layer and tri-layer structure are evaluated in terms of tip displacement, blocked force, strain energy density and power output density. The actuation performance of the tri-layer actuator was better than the hi-layer structure, and the maximum displacement and blocked force of tri-layer $CIO_4^-$ doped-PANI-EAPap were 13.2 mm and 0.15 mN, respectively. Also the power output of the actuator is similar to the required power of biological muscle application.

• Transactions of the Korean Society of Mechanical Engineers B
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• v.36 no.5
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• pp.539-543
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• 2012

Cellulose Electro-Active Paper (EAPap) is attractive as a biomimetic actuator because of its merits: it is lightweight, operates in dry conditions, has a large displacement output, has a low actuation voltage, and has low power consumption. Cellulose is regenerated so as to align its microfibrils, which results in a piezoelectric paper. When chemically bonded and mixed with carbon nanotubes, titanium oxide, zinc oxide, tin oxides, the cellulose EAPap can be used as a hybrid nanocomposite that has versatile properties and that can meet the requirements of many application devices. This paper presents trends in recent research on the cellulose EAPap, mainly on material preparation and its use in devices, including biosensors, chemical sensors, flexible transistors, and actuators. This paper also explains wirelessly driving technology for the cellulose EAPap, which is attractive for use in biomimetic robotics and micro-aerial vehicles.