Infrared-Actuated Recovery of Polyurethane Filled by Reduced Graphene Oxide/Carbon Nanotube Hybrids with High Energy Density

Abstract

Optically actuated shape recovery materials receive much interest because of their great ability to control the creation of mechanical motion remotely and precisely. An infrared (IR) triggered actuator based on shape recovery was fabricated using polyurethane (TPU) incorporated by sulfonated reduced graphene oxide (SRGO)/sulfonated carbon nanotube (SCNT) hybrid nanofillers. Interconnected SRGO/SCNT hybrid nanofillers at a low weight loading of 1% dispersed in TPU showed good IR absorption and improved the crystallization of soft segments for a large shape deformation. The output force, energy density and recovery time of IR-triggered actuators were dependent on weight ratios of SRGO to SCNT (SRGO:SCNT). TPU nanocomposites filled by a hybrid nanofiller with SRGO:SCNT of 3:1 showed the maximum IR-actuated stress recovery of lifting a 107.6 g weight up 4.7 cm in 18 s. The stress recovery delivered a high energy density of 0.63 J/g and shape recovery force up to 1.2 MPa due to high thermal conductivity (1.473 W/mK) and Young's modulus of 23.4 MPa. Results indicate that a trade-off between the stiffness and efficient heat transfer controlled by synergistic effect between SRGO and SCNT is critical for high mechanical power output of IR-triggered actuators. IR-actuated shape recovery of SRGO/SCNT/TPU nanocomposites combining high energy density and output forces can be further developed for advanced optomechanical systems.

Polymer/boron nitride nanosheet composite with high thermal conductivity and sufficient dielectric strength

“…Recently, graphene oxide, graphene, and graphene nanoplates have been shown to be even more advantageous than carbon nanotubes, [7][8][9][10][11][12][13] especially for their uses in polymer composites with high thermal conductivity. [14,15] Hexagonal boron nitride (BN) is structurally analogous to graphite and has equally good thermal transport properties.…”

Mechanically and Thermally Enhanced Multiwalled Carbon Nanotube–Graphene Hybrid filled Thermoplastic Polyurethane Nanocomposites

“…Liu et al reported the formation of mechanically improved and thermally stable reduced graphene nanoribbon/CNT/TPU nanocomposites, which involved complicated hybrid preparatory method through unzipping the MWCNTs . In another work, the fabrication of sulfonated reduced graphene oxide (GO)/sulfonated carbon nanotube/TPU nanocomposites is reported for IR‐actuated shape recovery applications . Motivated by these, we have concentrated our work on preparation of hybrid by simple methods in quest of developing TPU nanocomposites even with much superior properties.…”

Shape memory nanocomposite of poly(L-lactic acid)/graphene nanoplatelets triggered by infrared light and thermal heating

“…These unique properties of graphene have been used to produce different multi-stimuli responsive SMPs. Infrared light actuated SMPs are a class of these materials and some studies have been done in this regard [17,37,38]. Kashif et al [37] have produced shape memory polyolefin elastomer/modified graphene nanocomposites responding to infrared light with healing properties.…”

“…Kashif et al [37] have produced shape memory polyolefin elastomer/modified graphene nanocomposites responding to infrared light with healing properties. Feng et al [38] have prepared IR actuated shape memory polyurethane with the aid of reduced graphene oxide and carbon nanotube hybrids. Park and Kim [17] have studied on the semi-crystalline poly urethane/graphene shape memory nanocomposite system responding to infrared light.…”