Artificial muscles based on polypyrrole/carbon nanotube laminates

Authors

Wen Zheng, University of Wollongong
Joselito M. Razal, University of WollongongFollow
Philip Whitten, University of Wollongong
Raquel Ovalle-Robles, University of Texas at Dallas
G G. Wallace, University of WollongongFollow
Ray Baughman, University of Texas at Dallas
Geoffrey M. Spinks, University of WollongongFollow

RIS ID

38159

Publication Details

Zheng, W., Razal, J. M., Whitten, P. G., Ovalle-Robles, R., Wallace, G. G., Baughman, R. H. & Spinks, G. Maxwell. (2011). Artificial muscles based on polypyrrole/carbon nanotube laminates. Advanced Materials, 23 (26), 2966-2970.

Abstract

A novel method for the periodical assembly of laminates of forest-drawn carbon nanotube (CNT) sheets and polypyrrole (PPy) is described. The method produces composite films in which the volume fraction and orientation of CNTs can be controlled. Actuator stroke and strength is increased and work capacity per cycle doubled when nanotube orientation is perpendicular to the actuation direction. Most importantly, these PPy/CNT laminates have dramatically decreased creep during actuation, which has been a major barrier for the application of PPy actuators.

Grant Number

ARC/FF0669110, ARC/DP0987503

Additional Grant Number

http://purl.org/au-research/grants/ARC/FF0669110

http://purl.org/au-research/grants/ARC/DP0987503