The effect of carbon nanofillers on the performance of electromechanical polyaniline-based composite actuators

Abstract

Different types of crystalline carbon nanomaterials were used to reinforce polyaniline (PAni) for use in electromechanical bilayer bending actuators. The objective is to analyze how the structural properties of the nanocarbons affect the in-situ produced PAni structure and subsequent final composite actuator behavior. Nanocarbons investigated were multiwalled carbon nanotubes, nitrogen-doped carbon nanotubes, helical-ribbon carbon nanofibers and graphene oxide, each one presenting different shape and structural characteristics. Films of nanocarbon-PAni composite were tested in a liquid electrolyte cell system. Experimental design was used to select type of nanocarbon filler and composite loadings that showed a good balance of electromechanical properties. Raman spectroscopy suggests good interaction between PAni and the nanocarbon fillers.Electron microscopy showed best nanofiller dispersion for graphene oxide, followed by multiwall carbon nanotubes. On the contrary, nitrogen doped nanotube composites showed dispersion problems, and thus a poor performance. Multiwall carbon nanotubes composite actuators had the best performance based on the combination of bending angle, bending velocity and maximum working cycles (measured considering nanofiller loading and applied voltage), while graphene oxide attained similar good performance.

Electrical and Electrochemical Properties of Conducting Polymers

“…Successful preparations of CP composites with high mechanical stabilities, flexibilities, and conductivities have proven that CPs can serve as key material components in light emitting diodes [9,10], transistors [11,12], electrochromic devices [13,14], actuators [15,16], electrochemical capacitors [17,18], photovoltaic cells [19,20], and sensors [21,22]. The most crucial factor for progress in such fields is achieving control of the electrical or electrochemical properties of CPs.…”

A Review of Carbon Nanomaterials’ Synthesis via the Chemical Vapor Deposition (CVD) Method

“…Carbon, one of the most abundant materials found on earth, can be found in nature in its elemental form as graphite, diamond and coal [ 4 , 5 ]. The carbon nanomaterials with their excellent properties are ideal candidates for advanced applications in the area of electronics, membranes, wastewater treatment, batteries, capacitors, heterogeneous catalysis, as well as biological and medical sciences [ 6 , 7 , 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 , 16 , 17 ].…”

Polyaniline photoluminescence quenching induced by single-walled carbon nanotubes enriched in metallic and semiconducting tubes

“…Composites based on PANI and carbon nanotubes (CNTs) have been studied extensively, due to their numerous applications in various fields including pharmaceuticals (determination of paracetamol) 10 , supercapacitors 11 , 12 , electrodes for dye-sensitized solar cells 13 , fuel cells 14 , actuators 15 , rechargeable batteries 16 , gas sensor 17 , photocatalysts 18 and so one. Such applications were also reported in the case of other polyaniline-based composites, some examples being (i) polyaniline-silver nanocomposite as active material in detection of H 2 S 19 and (ii) PANI- modified TiO 2 as photocatalytic material for the degradation of organic pollutants 20 .…”