Single wall carbon nanotube-Nafion composite actuators
Date
2002-11Author
Landi, Brian
Raffaelle, Ryne
Heben, Michael
Alleman, Jeffrey
VanDerveer, William
Gennett, Thomas
Metadata
Show full item recordAbstract
Single wall carbon nanotube (SWNT)-Nafion composite actuators have been demonstrated for 0.1-18% w/w doping of purified SWNTs within the polymer matrix. The high purity SWNTs, >95% w/w, were homogeneously dispersed into the polymer through a series of homogenization and high sheer mixing techniques. The efficient distribution of the high aspect ratio, conductive SWNT materials allowed for the actuation of the Nafion membrane to be reached at SWNT doping levels as low as 0.5% w/w. Utilizing a two-electrode bimorph cantilever actuator immersed into an aqueous lithium chloride solution, tip deflections up to 4.5 mm were observed.