Carbon nanotube enhanced gripping in polymer-based actuators

Fei Peng Du, Chak Yin Tang, Xiao Lin Xie, Xing Ping Zhou, Li Tan

Research output: Journal article publicationJournal articleAcademic researchpeer-review

26 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Ionic polymer membrane cast from the mixture of poly(sodium 4-styrenesulfonate-co-acrylic acid) (PSA) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) was used as an electromechanical actuator. Surface modified multiwalled carbon nanotubes (MWNTs) were used as an efficient element to enhance the gripping of this actuator. In particular, a thin layer of PSA with a thickness of 12 nm is uniformly grafted on the surfaces of MWNTs. The watersoluble PSA-g-MWNTs can be homogeneously dispersed in the PSA/PVA membrane with a loading ratio of up to 20 wt %. Such a uniform dispersion generated many unique properties in this composite membrane, including enhanced toughness, relatively constant ionic-exchange capacity, and prominent structure integrity after water uptake. We argue that all these novel material properties are due to a removal of the interface mismatch between the MWNTs and the polymer membrane. As a result, a much-enhanced gripping is resulted from electrical stimuli, an indication of a promoted electromechanical coupling. When the loading of PSA- g-MWNTs reaches more than 10 wt %, the small oscillation in the mechanical output of the actuator vanishes.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)7223-7226
Number of pages4
JournalJournal of Physical Chemistry C
Volume113
Issue number17
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 30 Apr 2009

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Electronic, Optical and Magnetic Materials
  • General Energy
  • Surfaces, Coatings and Films
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

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