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Synthesis, characterization and analytical modelling of mechanical behavior of a conducting polymer actuator

journal contribution
posted on 2010-06-30, 00:00 authored by Akif KaynakAkif Kaynak, Chunhui Yang, Abbas KouzaniAbbas Kouzani
Electrochemical synthesis of a tri-layer polypyrrole based actuator optimized for performance was reported. The 0.05 M pyrrole and 0.05 M tetrabutylammonium hexaflurophosphate in propylene carbonate (PC) yielded the optimum performance and stability. The force produced ranged from 0.2 to 0.4mN. Cyclic deflection tests on PC based actuators for 3 hours indicated that the displacement decreased by 60%. PC based actuator had a longer operating time, exceeding 3 hours, compared to acetonitrile based actuators. A triple-layer model of the polymer actuator was developed based on the classic bending beam theory by considering strain electrode material. A tri-layer actuator was fabricated [4, 6], by initially sputter coating a PVDF film with approximately 100nm of gold layer, resulting in a conductive film with a surface resistance of 8-10Ω. The PVDF film was about ~145µm thick had an approximate pore size of 45μm. A solution containing 0.05M distilled pyrrole monomer, 0.05M (TBAPF6) and 1% (w/w) distilled water in PC (propylene carbonate) solution was purged with nitrogen for 15 minutes. The continuity between PPy and PVDF. Results predicted by the model were in good agreement with the experimental data.

History

Journal

Materials science forum

Volume

654-656

Pagination

2467 - 2470

Publisher

Trans Tech Publications

Location

Stafa-Zurich, Switzerland

ISSN

0255-5476

Language

eng

Publication classification

C1 Refereed article in a scholarly journal

Copyright notice

2010, Trans Tech Publications