title: An ionic-polymer-metallic composite actuator for reconfigurable antennas in mobile devices.
abstract: In this paper, a new application of an electro-active-polymer for a radio frequency (RF) switch is presented. We used an ionic polymer metallic composite (IPMC) switch to change the operating frequency of an inverted-F antenna. This switch is light in weight, small in volume, and low in cost. In addition, the IPMC is suitable for mobile devices because of its driving voltage of 3 volts and thickness of 200 μm. The IPMC acts as a normally-on switch to control the operating frequency of a reconfigurable antenna in mobile phones. We experimentally demonstrated by network analysis that the IPMC switch could shift its operating frequency from 1.1 to 2.1 GHz, with return losses of than -10 dB at both frequencies. To minimize electrolysis and maximize the operation time in air, propylene carbonate electrolyte with lithium perchlorate (LiClO₄) was applied inside the IPMC. The results showed that when the IPMC was actuated over three months at 3.5 V, the tip displacement fell by less than 10%. Therefore, an IPMC actuator is a promising choice for application to a reconfigurable antenna.
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Photonics and Optoelectronics, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei 106, Taiwan. victorlin1020@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Yi-Chen
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Photonics and Optoelectronics, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei 106, Taiwan. r01941078@ntu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Chung-Yi
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Photonics and Optoelectronics, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei 106, Taiwan. r01941089@ntu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Chung-Min
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Photonics and Optoelectronics, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei 106, Taiwan. r99941044@ntu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Chin-Heng
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Photonics and Optoelectronics, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei 106, Taiwan. jpchen.home@msa.hinet.net.
authors.forename: Jiun-Peng
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Photonics and Optoelectronics, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei 106, Taiwan. thc@ntu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Tah-Hsiung
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Chu
authors.affiliation: Graduate Institute of Photonics and Optoelectronics, National Taiwan University, No. 1, Sec. 4, Roosevelt Rd., Taipei 106, Taiwan. gdjsu@cc.ee.ntu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Guo-Dung John
authors.initials: GD
authors.lastname: Su