Controlling the bending properties of ionic polymer-metal composites may
immediately affect their implementation in robotics and medicine. In the present
work, we propose a direct patterning method for the ionic polymer Nafion using
conventional electron-beam writing. In a proof-of-concept study, we show that
patterns of arbitrary geometry and sizes between 1 µm and 50
µm can be engraved into the polymer surface without using resists.
Pattern depth can be deliberately controlled by adjusting the exposure dose. The
patterns were stable even after prolonged immersion in ionic solution. The
presented technique therefore opens up the possibility to create unique
electrode geometries and to investigate independently the effect of pattern
size, density, depth as well as geometry on ionic polymer-metal composite
bending.