Novel Actuating System Based on a Composite of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and an Ionomeric Polymer

Levitsky, Igor A.; Kanelos, Peter T.; Euler, William B.

doi:10.1557/proc-785-d9.1

Cited by 7 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Compared to Levitsky et al (2004), SWNT did not increase the stiffness in the actuators relative to RuO 2 -based transducers. This leads to a lower bandwidth in the SWNT and hybrid actuators.…”

Section: Mechanical Dampingmentioning

confidence: 75%

“…This leads to a lower bandwidth in the SWNT and hybrid actuators. Note that Levitsky et al (2004) used a different electrode and fabrication technique, and the SWNTs were sprayed on the electrode.…”

Section: Mechanical Dampingmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Initial results by Bennett and Leo (2003b) and Vidal et al (2004) have demonstrated that using a hybrid ionic polymer-conducting polymer actuator increases the force output and the bandwidth of the transducers. Recently, carbon nanotubes-ionomer hybrid actuators have also proved to increase the strain and force of the transducers (Levitsky et al, 2004). Levitsky et al (2004) sprayed the nanotubes on a Nafion TM membrane, and reported 0.9 mm tip displacement under 3.5 v for a 3 mm Â 20 mm water-hydrated transducer.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes — Ionic Polymer Electroactive Hybrid Transducers

Akle

Leo

2007

Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures

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Ionic electroactive polymers, sometimes referred to as artificial muscles, have the ability to generate large bending strain and moderate stress at low applied voltages. Typical types of ionic electroactive polymer transducers include ionic polymers, conducting polymers, and carbon nanotubes. Preliminary research combining multiple types of materials proved to enhance certain transduction properties. Bennett and Leo (Materials Research Society Symposium Proceedings, vol. 785, 2003b) showed that the speed of response, maximum strain, and quasi-static actuation are improved by adding a layer of conducting polymer on an ionic polymer transducer. In this work, a recently developed fabrication method called the direct assembly process (DAP) plating is used to build SWNT/RuO 2 hybrid transducers. The DAP consists of mixing a conducting powder with an ionomer solution. This technique has demonstrated improved response time and strain output as compared to previous methods. Electrodes applied using this new technique of mixing RuO 2 (surface area 45-65 m 2 =g) particles and Nafion TM dispersion provided 5Â the displacement and 10Â the force compared to a transducer made with conventional methods. Furthermore, previous studies demonstrated that the response speed of the transducer is optimized by varying the composition of metal in the electrode (Akle, B.. 2007. ''Direct Assembly Process: A Novel Fabrication Technique for Large Strain Ionic Polymer Transducers,'' Journal of Mat. Sci., 42:7031-7041). For RuO 2 , the optimal loading was approximately 45 vol%, while carbon nanotubes electrodes have an optimal performance at 30 vol%. Due to low percolation threshold, carbon nanotubes actuators perform better at a lower loading compared to other conducting powders. The addition of single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNT) to the electrode increases both the strain rate and the maximum strain of the hybrid actuator. The strain rate of the transducer increased proportional to the ratio of SWNT to RuO 2 in the electrode. A maximum peak-to-peak strain of 10.6% (AE2 V) is attained in a 15 vol% SWNT/30 vol% RuO 2 hybrid transducer. The maximum strain rate of 2.7%/s is generated by a 20 vol% SWNT/25 vol% RuO 2 hybrid transducer.

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Section: Mechanical Dampingmentioning

confidence: 75%

Section: Mechanical Dampingmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes — Ionic Polymer Electroactive Hybrid Transducers

Akle

Leo

2007

Journal of Intelligent Material Systems and Structures

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“…In a study by Yang et al [17], molecular dynamic studies confirmed that hydrophobic surface properties are dependent on the rootmean-square (RMS) of the surface roughness. Many present and future applications in nanotechnology will require controlling the interaction and assembly of ionomer structures for new membranes [18], enhanced mechanical structures for composites [19], enhanced actuators [20], and structured carbon-ionomer nanocomposites for polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) fuel cells [21].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Carbon-Ionomer Nanocomposite Wetting Properties: The Role of Ionomer Composition and Surface Roughness

Mazumder¹,

Fan²,

Cornelius³

2015

IJMSA

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Surface hydrophobicity changes of a series of nanocomposite films were evaluated as a function of roughness and ionomer concentration. Nanocomposite surfaces were created by coating a smooth silicon wafer and micro textured surfaces based on two types of 3M micro-replicated Brightness Enhancement Films (BEF). Multiple nanocomposite surfaces were evaluated as a function of Pt/C catalyst, a single walled carbon nanotube (SWCNT), and ionomer concentration varying between 7.5 to 27.3 wt% Nafion. An increase in hydrophobicity was observed for all nanocomposite surfaces as compared to bare substrates coated with ionomer. Bare substrates had observed water contact angles of 32.5 o on silicon, 50.8 o on BEF type Y, and 91.2 o on BEF type P. Nanocomposites coated on BEF type P surfaces had the greatest increase in apparent contact angle starting from 101.5 o on a surface coated with ionomer to 140.6 o for an ionomer composite containing 100 wt% Pt/C followed by BEF type Y (78.4 o-135.4 o) and Si (76.9 o-135.8 o). Nanocomposite roughness increased with increasing ionomer concentration and was inversely related to the apparent contact angle of water. Nanocomposite wetting properties were strongly dependent upon ionomer concentration and micro scale roughness contributed to wetting behavior transitioning between Wenzel and Cassie modes.

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“…Initial results by Bennett and Leo and Vidal, et al have demonstrated that using a hybrid ionic polymer-conducting polymer actuator increases the force output and the bandwidth of the transducers 1,9 . Recently, carbon nanotubes-ionomer hybrid actuators have also proved to increase the strain and force of the transducers 10 . Levitsky et al sprayed the nanotubes on a Nafion TM membrane, and reported 0.9mm tip displacement under 3.5V for a 3mm x 20mm water hydrated transducer.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ionic electroactive hybrid transducers

Akle¹,

Bennett²,

Leo³

2005

SPIE Proceedings

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Ionic electroactive actuators have received considerable attention in the past ten years. Ionic electroactive polymers, sometimes referred to as artificial muscles, have the ability to generate large bending strain and moderate stress at low applied voltages. Typical types of ionic electroactive polymer transducers include ionic polymers, conducting polymers, and carbon nanotubes. Preliminary research combining multiple types of materials proved to enhance certain transduction properties such as speed of response, maximum strain, or quasi-static actuation 1 . Recently it was demonstrated that ionomer-ionic liquid transducers can operate in air for long periods of time (>250,000 cycles) and showed potential to reduce or eliminate the back-relaxation issue associated with ionomeric polymers 2 . In addition, ionic liquids have higher electrical stability window than those operated with water as the solvent thereby increasing the maximum strain that the actuator can produce. In this work, a new technique developed for plating metal particulates on the surface of ionomeric materials is applied to the development of hybrid transducers that incorporate carbon nanotubes and conducting polymers as electrode materials. The new plating technique, named the direct assembly process, consists of mixing a conducting powder with an ionomer solution. This technique has demonstrated improved response time and strain output as compared to previous methods. Furthermore, the direct assembly process is less costly to implement than traditional impregnation-reduction methods due to less dependence on reducing agents, it requires less time, and is easier to implement than other processes. Electrodes applied using this new technique of mixing RuO 2 (surface area 45~65m 2 /g) particles and Nafion TM dispersion provided 5x the displacement and 10x the force compared to a transducer made with conventional methods. Furthermore, the study illustrated that the response speed of the transducer is optimized by varying the vol% of metal in the electrode. For RuO 2, the optimal loading was approximately 45% 3 . This study shows that carbon nanotubes electrodes have an optimal performance at loadings around 30 vol%, while PANI electrodes are optimized at 95 vol%. Due to low percolation threshold, carbon nanotubes actuators perform better at lower loading than other conducting powders. The addition of nanotubes to the electrode tends to increase both the strain rate and the maximum strain of the hybrid actuator. SWNT/RuO 2 hybrid transducer has a strain rate of 2.5%/sec, and a maximum attainable peak-to-peak strain of 9.38% (+/-2V). SWNT/PANI hybrid also increased both strain and strain rate but not as significant as with RuO 2 . PANI/RuO 2 actuator had an overwhelming back relaxation.

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Novel Actuating System Based on a Composite of Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes and an Ionomeric Polymer

Cited by 7 publications

References 8 publications

Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes — Ionic Polymer Electroactive Hybrid Transducers

Single-Walled Carbon Nanotubes — Ionic Polymer Electroactive Hybrid Transducers

Carbon-Ionomer Nanocomposite Wetting Properties: The Role of Ionomer Composition and Surface Roughness

Ionic electroactive hybrid transducers

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