Graphene-nanoplatelet-based photomechanical actuators
Open Access
- 6 January 2012
- journal article
- Published by IOP Publishing in Nanotechnology
- Vol. 23 (4), 045501
- https://doi.org/10.1088/0957-4484/23/4/045501
Abstract
This paper reports large light-induced reversible and elastic responses of graphene nanoplatelet (GNP) polymer composites. Homogeneous mixtures of GNP/polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) composites (0.1-5 wt%) were prepared and their infrared (IR) mechanical responses studied with increasing pre-strains. Using IR illumination, a photomechanically induced change in stress of four orders of magnitude as compared to pristine PDMS polymer was measured. The actuation responses of the graphene polymer composites depended on the applied pre-strains. At low levels of pre-strain (3-9%) the actuators showed reversible expansion while at high levels (15-40%) the actuators exhibited reversible contraction. The GNP/PDMS composites exhibited higher actuation stresses compared to other forms of nanostructured carbon/PDMS composites, including carbon nanotubes (CNTs), for the same fabrication method. An extraordinary optical-to-mechanical energy conversion factor (η(M)) of 7-9 MPa W(-1) for GNP-based polymer composite actuators is reported.Keywords
This publication has 36 references indexed in Scilit:
- Measuring reversible photomechanical switching rates for a molecule at a surfaceApplied Physics Letters, 2008
- Optically driven nanotube actuatorsNanotechnology, 2005
- Photomechanical actuation in polymer–nanotube compositesNature Materials, 2005
- Charge-Induced Reversible Strain in a MetalScience, 2003
- Photostrictive actuators - new perspective -Ferroelectrics, 2001
- Surprising Volume Change in PPy(DBS): An Atomic Force Microscopy StudyAdvanced Materials, 1999
- Carbon Nanotube ActuatorsScience, 1999
- Millimeter-sized joint actuator using a shape memory alloySensors and Actuators, 1989
- Hysteresis-free piezoelectric actuators using LiNbO3plates with a ferroelectric inversion layerFerroelectrics, 1989
- Flexural disk peizoelectric polymer hydrophonesThe Journal of the Acoustical Society of America, 1976