Recent progress in preparation process of ionic polymer-metal composites

Ionic polymer-metal composite (IPMC) is a typical electroactive polymers material, which has the advantages of light weight, fast response, good flexibility, large deformation range and good biocompatibility, it has a broad application prospect in the fields of soft robot, biomedicine, micro/nano object operation and so on. In this paper, the deformation mechanism of IPMC is briefly described, and then the fabrication technology of IPMC at present stage is mainly introduced, it includes electroless plating, electroplating, sputtering deposition, solution casting, hot pressing, direct assembly and other preparation processes. From the point of view of the most basic preparation process of IPMC, the various preparation methods and the problems faced in the preparation process of IPMC were discussed and analyzed. Finally, the preparation process of IPMC was summarized, and the challenges and future development of IPMC were prospected. Through the summary of this paper, it is helpful to consider all kinds of factors comprehensively, and then develop a new preparation technology, which can promote the rapid application and development of IPMC.