UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones 12-1-2016 Ionic Electroactive Polymer Devices: Physics-Based Modeling with Experimental Investigation and Verification Tyler Paul Stalbaum University of Nevada, Las Vegas Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalscholarship.unlv.edu/thesesdissertations Part of the Mechanical Engineering Commons Repository Citation Stalbaum, Tyler Paul, "Ionic Electroactive Polymer Devices: Physics-Based Modeling with Experimental Investigation and Verification" (2016). UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones. 2904. http://dx.doi.org/10.34917/10083216 This Dissertation is protected by copyright and/or related rights. It has been brought to you by Digital Scholarship@UNLV with permission from the rights-holder(s). You are free to use this Dissertation in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s) directly, unless additional rights are indicated by a Creative Commons license in the record and/or on the work itself. This Dissertation has been accepted for inclusion in UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones by an authorized administrator of Digital Scholarship@UNLV. For more information, please contact [email protected]. IONIC ELECTROACTIVE POLYMER DEVICES: PHYSICS-BASED MODELING WITH EXPERIMENTAL INVESTIGATION AND VERIFICATION By Tyler Paul Stalbaum Bachelor of Science – Mechanical Engineering University of Nevada, Las Vegas 2010 Master of Science – Industrial Engineering Purdue University 2013 A dissertation in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Doctor of Philosophy – Mechanical Engineering Department of Mechanical Engineering Howard R. Hughes College of Engineering The Graduate College University of Nevada, Las Vegas December 2016 Dissertation Approval The Graduate College The University of Nevada, Las Vegas September 16, 2016 This dissertation prepared by Tyler Stalbaum entitled Ionic Electroactive Polymer Devices: Physics-Based Modeling with Experimental Investigation and Verification is approved in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy – Mechanical Engineering Department of Mechanical Engineering Kwang Kim, Ph.D. Kathryn Hausbeck Korgan, Ph.D. Examination Committee Chair Graduate College Interim Dean Hui Zhao, Ph.D. Examination Committee Member Pushkin Kachroo, Ph.D. Examination Committee Member Woosoon Yim, Ph.D. Examination Committee Member Dong-Chan Lee, Ph.D. Graduate College Faculty Representative ii ABSTRACT Stalbaum, Tyler P., Ph.D. M.E., University of Nevada, Las Vegas, August 2016. Ionic Electroactive Polymer Devices: Physics-Based Modeling with Experimental Investigation and Verification. Major Professor: Kwang J. Kim. The primary focus of this study is to examine, understand, and model ionic electroactive polymer based systems in attempt to further develop this field of study. Physics-based modeling is utilized, as opposed to empirical modeling, to achieve a deeper insight to the underlying physics. The ionic electroactive polymer system of primary interest in this study is ionic polymer-metal composite (IPMC) devices. Other similar devices, such as anion-exchange membrane (AEM) type actuators and flow battery systems are also investigated using the developed model. The underlying physics are in the studies of transport phenomenon for describing the ionic flow within the polymer membrane, solid mechanics for describing deformation of the given devices, electric potential and electric currents physics for the voltage across the devices, and ion exchange along with chemical reaction in case of flow batteries. Specific details of these systems are analyzed, such as geometrical and electrode effects. The results in modeling IPMC actuators and sensors have been used to experimentally validate the modeling framework and have provided keen insight to the underlying physics behind these transduction phenomena. The developed models will benefit researchers in these fields and are expected to provide a better understanding of these systems. This study provides a framework for design and fabrication of advanced, highly integrated, ionic migration and exchange polymer-composite devices. In particular, this work focuses on finite element simulations of ionic electroactive polymers using COMSOL Multiphysics versions 4.3 through 5.2, with primary focus on ionic polymer-metal composite devices. The basic framework model for IPMCs is of greatest importance and is the initial focus of this work. This is covered in Chapter 3 in detail with experimental comparison of results. Other iii aspects of interest are geometrical and electrode effects of IPMCs, which are discussed in Chapter 3 and Chapter 4. Applications of the modeling framework, such as in modeling other electroactive polymer actuators is covered in Chapter 5 and Chapter 6, which includes simulations of electrodeless artificial cilia actuators in lithium chloride (LiCl) electrolyte, discussion and modeling of all-Vanadium oxidation reduction (redox) flow battery devices, fluid-structure interactions with IPMCs, and discussion of implementing the modeling framework for anion type IPMCs. Two publications from Journal of Applied Physics and one paper accepted for publication from the Marine Technology Society Journal are included herein, with publisher permission. These papers focus directly on topics of interest to this work. They underwent several revisions and are included in full or large excerpt form to provide the most accurate description and discussion of these topics. The author of this dissertation is first author and did much of the work of one of the three papers; specific author contributions for the other two papers are detailed before each paper is presented, in which the author of this dissertation was primarily responsible for finite element simulations, discussion, and revisions. Chapter 7 and Chapter 8 contain conclusions and recommendations for future work, respectively. iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to especially thank my academic advisor Professor Kwang J. Kim for his support, ingenuity in research, advice, discussion and many teachings. I would also like to extend this gratitude to my research committee members, Drs. Woosoon Yim, Hui Zhao, Pushkin Kachroo, and Dong-Chan Lee. I also would like to thank the other research members of our lab, Viljar Palmre, Qi Shen, Taeseon Hwang, Sarah Trabia, Shelby Nelson, Jun Woo Park, Jameson Lee, Choonghan Lee, Kevin Yim, Zakai Olsen, Robert Hunt, Anupam Kumar, and MD Bhuiya; without their help and individual expertise, this work would not have been possible. I would also like to thank Dr. David Pugal for pioneering development of the IPMC physics modeling framework and first demonstrating the working model in COMSOL. I’d like to especially thank Dr. Viljar Palmre for helping with IPMC fabrication, experiments, and understanding of ionic polymer-metal composites underlying physics; additionally, his calm and motivational demeanor made for an exceptionally pleasant research atmosphere. I would also like to thank Joan Conway of the UNLV Department of Mechanical Engineering for always being helpful, punctual, and for her care and dedication to students. Additionally, I am very grateful for the teachings and mentoring of many professors throughout my studies at UNLV. Namely, I would like to thank Drs. Angel Muleshkov, Vellore C. Venkatesh, Yitung Chen, Mohammad Trabia, Sean Hsieh, and Marianne Austin for their outstanding lectures, elaborate discussions, and strong dedication to the development and education of their students. I am also grateful for my high school counselor, Alison Foster, and principal, Anita Wilbur, for all of their help and guidance in beginning my academic career. Last but not least, I would like to thank my family and friends for their unconditional support and compassion. Additional thanks to partial financial support from the Office of Naval Research (N00014-13-1-0274) and the National Aeronautics and Space Administration under Grant No. NNX13AN15A. v DEDICATION To my mother, Diane K. Stalbaum, and in loving memory of my father, Gregory L. Stalbaum July 05, 1958 - July 19, 2014. vi TABLE OF CONTENTS Abstract ....................................................................................................................................................... iii Acknowledgements ..................................................................................................................................... v Dedication ................................................................................................................................................... vi List of Tables ................................................................................................................................................ ix List of Figures ............................................................................................................................................... x Chapter 1: Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 1 Problem Statement ................................................................................................................................. 3 Chapter 2: Background ..............................................................................................................................