Mechanical and Electrical Properties of Polyelectrolyte Elastomers in Bulk and at Interface

Unlike conventional polyelectrolyte solutions and gels and conventional elastomers, polyelectrolyte elastomers are both solvent-free and ion-conductive. We developed polyelectrolyte elastomers and investigated their unique mechanical and interfacial properties. With collaborators, the tunability of ion transimission in the polyelectrolyte elastomer and the rectification of ionic current across their interfaces are reported. Recently, we observed a novel electrical manifestation of polyelectrolyte elastomers. In a preciously engineered reversible mechanical process, the polyelectrolyte elastomer transforms the mechanical loss into an electrical gain. This phenomenon depends on the appropriate design of the electro-mechanical-chemical responsive network of the polyelectrolyte elastomer. We experimentally and theoretically bridged the molecular picture of a polyelectrolyte elastomer to quantifiable characteristics. In addition to inheriting the benefits of the parent ionic liquids and elastomers in various applications, polyelectrolyte elastomers lead to advanced applications in areas including energy harvesting, sensors, and soft robots.<br/>&lt;input id="MWCallFunc" name="MWCallFunc" style="display: none;" type="button" /&gt;