Electrochemically driven actuators from conducting polymers, hydrogels, and carbon nanotubes

Geoffrey M. Spinks; Gordon G. Wallace; Trevor W. Lewis; Leonard S. Fifield; Liming Dai; Ray H. Baughman

doi:10.1117/12.424410

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6 April 2001 Electrochemically driven actuators from conducting polymers, hydrogels, and carbon nanotubes

Geoffrey M. Spinks, Gordon G. Wallace, Trevor W. Lewis, Leonard S. Fifield, Liming Dai, Ray H. Baughman

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Proceedings Volume 4234, Smart Materials; (2001) https://doi.org/10.1117/12.424410
Event: Smart Materials and MEMS, 2000, Melbourne, Australia

Abstract

The mechanisms of actuation operating in polymeric actuators are reviewed along with a comparison of actuator performance. Polymer hydrogel actuators show very large dimensional changes, but relatively low response times. The mechanism of actuation involves several processes including electro-osmosis and electrochemical effects. Conducting polymer actuators operate by Faradaic reactions causing oxidation and reduction of the polymer backbone. Associated ion movements produce dimensional changes of typically up to 3%. The maximum stress achieved to date from conducting polymers is not more than 10 MPA. Carbon nanotubes have recently been demonstrated as new actuator materials. The nanotubes undergo useful dimensional changes (approximately 1%) but have the capacity to respond very rapidly (kHz) and generate giant stresses (600 MPa). The advantages of nanotube actuators stem from their exceptional mechanical properties and the non-Faradaic actuation mechanism.

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Geoffrey M. Spinks, Gordon G. Wallace, Trevor W. Lewis, Leonard S. Fifield, Liming Dai, and Ray H. Baughman "Electrochemically driven actuators from conducting polymers, hydrogels, and carbon nanotubes", Proc. SPIE 4234, Smart Materials, (6 April 2001); https://doi.org/10.1117/12.424410

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