Fabrication, morphology, and actuation from novel single-wall carbon nanotube/Nafion composites

Debjit Chattopadhyay; Izabela E. Galeska; Fotios Papadimitrakopoulos; Edgar Munoz; Ray Henry Baughman

doi:10.1117/12.475203

11 July 2002 Fabrication, morphology, and actuation from novel single-wall carbon nanotube/Nafion composites

Debjit Chattopadhyay, Izabela E. Galeska, Fotios Papadimitrakopoulos, Edgar Munoz, Ray Henry Baughman

Proceedings Volume 4695, Smart Structures and Materials 2002: Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD); (2002) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.475203
Event: SPIE's 9th Annual International Symposium on Smart Structures and Materials, 2002, San Diego, California, United States

Abstract

Mechanical actuators that simultaneously provide high power densities and large force generation capacities are of great scientific and technological interest. Recently single wall carbon nanotube (SWNT) sheets (bucky papers) were shown to possess significant promise as electrochemical actuators. Embedding polyelectrolytes, like Nafion, within the nanotube matrix has the potential to address the limitations of SWNT bundling and tube slippage thus increasing force generation. In this paper two types of Nafion/SWNT composite actuators have been investigated depending on the method of fabrication. In the first case, infiltration of Nafion within SWNT sheet matrix was followed by annealing at 150 degree(s)C to invert Nafion's micellar structure and render it insoluble. This has resulted in a substantially exfoliated layer morphology that causes a reduction in both conductivity and actuation strain (c.a. 0.03%). In the second case, slow casting of a methanolic suspension of Nafion and SWNT soot, followed by annealing at 150 degree(s)C, resulted in a more homogeneous structure. This composite, upon electrochemical cycling between -1 and +1 V in aqueous electrolytes, exhibited actuation strains (as high as 0.43%). However, these higher strains are accompanied by an order of magnitude reduction in modulus largely due to Nafion swelling.

Citation Download Citation

Debjit Chattopadhyay, Izabela E. Galeska, Fotios Papadimitrakopoulos, Edgar Munoz, and Ray Henry Baughman "Fabrication, morphology, and actuation from novel single-wall carbon nanotube/Nafion composites", Proc. SPIE 4695, Smart Structures and Materials 2002: Electroactive Polymer Actuators and Devices (EAPAD), (11 July 2002); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.475203

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