Electromechanical behavior of carbon nanotubes-conducting polymer films

A relationship between strain and applied potential is derived for composite films consisting of single-wall carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) and conductive polymers (CPs). When it is derived, an electrochemical ionic approach is utilized to formulate the electromechanical actuation of the film actuator. This relationship can give us a direct understanding of actuation of the nanoactuator. The results show that the well-aligned SWNTs composite actuator can give good actuation responses and high actuating forces available. The actuation is found to be affected by both SWNTs and CPs components and the actuation of SWNTs component has two kinds of influences on that of the CPs component: reinforcement at the positive voltage and abatement at the negative voltage. Optimizations of SWNTs-CPs composite actuator may be achieved by using well-aligned nanotubes as well as choosing suitable electrolyte and an input voltage range.